webfact

Picture: 77kaoded Reporters from 77kaoded went to Phetchabun to investigate after a Facebook poster discovered what they said was clearly a case of the occult. A man discovered a float among the Krathongs that contained two red plasticine figures lying down with one baht coins in their mouths and joss-sticks stuck in their stomachs. Underneath was a message naming those that the person wanted dead. Picture: 77kaoded It was like voodoo dolls. The poster didn't dare read it fearing he would get the bad karma himself. It was discovered that the weird float had been desposited in a pond behind a school in Tha Rong sub-district of Wichianburi. Picture: 77kaoded One local told the press that he believed in the power of the magic and certainly wouldn't touch it. Neither, it appeared, did the reporters. Loy Krathong in Thailand - an occasion when people float away their troubles - took place on Tuesday. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

Police hunting for several pickup truck drivers after racing video on Phuket road goes viral By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Phuket Traffic Police are hunting for several unidentified pickup truck drivers after a video clip of multiple trucks racing on a road in Phuket has gone viral on social media. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277462-police-hunting-for-several-pickup-truck-drivers-after-racing-video-on-phuket-road-goes-viral/

By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Phuket Traffic Police are hunting for several unidentified pickup truck drivers after a video clip of multiple trucks racing on a road in Phuket has gone viral on social media. A video clip of modified pickup trucks with loud noise and black smoke who were racing at night from an intersection near the Saphan Hin Public Park in Phuket Town has gone viral in social media last night (November 10th). Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/11/11/police-hunting-for-several-pickup-truck-drivers-after-racing-video-on-phuket-road-goes-viral/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-11-11 - 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.

RTP chief "Big Den" promises heightened activity to stop online gambling at 2022 World Cup Picture: INN Thailand's national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat has promised raised activity to crack down on illegal gambling at the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277461-rtp-chief-big-den-promises-heightened-activity-to-stop-online-gambling-at-2022-world-cup/

Picture: INN Thailand's national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat has promised raised activity to crack down on illegal gambling at the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Word has come down from DPM Prawit Wongsuwon, reported INN who also noted the latest moves against high profile Chinese investors that is ongoing in Thailand. The police will be working with the Digital Economy and Society Ministry on identifying gambling miscreants. The man universally known in the Thai media as "Big Den" said that one online betting site has already been busted and more will follow under six measures to prevent illegal gambling. Elsewhere on ASEAN NOW today we have reported that whether the tournament is on free-to-view TV is still unsure. Televising the matches will undoubtedly increase the level of betting on the event which is always huge in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

UPDATE: SAT Waits for FIFA’s Response to Its B600m Budget for World Cup Broadcasts BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – The Sports Authority of Thailand was waiting for FIFA to respond to its proposal for Thailand to buy rights to live broadcasts of FIFA World Cup 2022 at 600 million baht. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277450-fears-that-thais-will-not-get-to-watch-world-cup-on-tv-after-all-sat-go-cap-in-hand-to-fifa/?do=findComment&comment=17718038

SAT Waits for FIFA’s Response to Its B600m Budget for World Cup Broadcasts BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – The Sports Authority of Thailand was waiting for FIFA to respond to its proposal for Thailand to buy rights to live broadcasts of FIFA World Cup 2022 at 600 million baht. On Nov 9, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission allocated 600 million baht from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for Public Interest for the SAT to buy the live broadcast right. The SAT earlier sought 1.6 billion baht to match FIFA’s quotation. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1055911 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-11-11 - 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!

Chinese investor's mansion in Pathum Thani searched - secret compartment found Picture: INN INN reported that Thai immigration were investigating the activities of a Chinese man named only as "Sao", 33, who it is claimed illegally gained Thai ID in Naratiwas, southern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277460-chinese-investors-mansion-in-pathum-thani-searched-secret-compartment-found/

Picture: INN INN reported that Thai immigration were investigating the activities of a Chinese man named only as "Sao", 33, who it is claimed illegally gained Thai ID in Naratiwas, southern Thailand. Yesterday a property comprising four buildings on a rai of land was searched in Lamlukka, Pathum Thani. This followed a raid on a building on Viphavadee Rangsit in the Phayathai area of the Thai capital where a luxury diplomatic car was found. It appears that the suspect was being driven around in this illegal vehicle with another car leading the way with a siren on its roof. Also found were military clothing. Initially a search warrant for the Lam Lukka property was denied by the Thanyaburi court so immigration staked it out and then stopped two suspects driving a vehicle out that was full of bootleg liquor. A susbsequent search of the house found nothing illegal but a secret compartment was discovered that was used to store things. It was empty. A model electric train was also found. (The size of this item was not articulated in the report). The ownership of the house and land is under investigation. Sao has been charged with illegally obtaining Thai ID and it has also been discovered that he holds two passports - one from Vanuatu and the other Chinese. Investigations continue. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

"Pretty Faced Corpse" found in Bangkok - Myanmar factory worker last seen with friends at Loy Krathong Daily News Thai Caption: Found dead naked in a room Daily News reported that a 'pretty faced corpse' had been discovered naked on the second floor of rental accommodation in Ekkachai Soi 89, Bang Bon, western Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277458-pretty-faced-corpse-found-in-bangkok-myanmar-factory-worker-last-seen-with-friends-at-loy-krathong/

Daily News Thai Caption: Found dead naked in a room Daily News reported that a 'pretty faced corpse' had been discovered naked on the second floor of rental accommodation in Ekkachai Soi 89, Bang Bon, western Bangkok. The victim was naked with the drawstring of a shoulder bag around her neck. She was 29 year old Myanmar national Khin Mar Win who worked at a factory in the same soi. She was single. She was found face up on linoleum and there was a broken piece of wood about two feet in length by the body. Work colleagues said they last saw her on Tuesday when they went to a Loy Krathong celebration together. They told Bang Khun Thian police that she hadn't turned up to work for two days and they noticed a smell coming from her room that was locked from the inside. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

Russian tourists top Phuket charts for most visitors so far in November, over double the closest country By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Russian tourists have hit the top of Phuket visitors in the past ten days. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277456-russian-tourists-top-phuket-charts-for-most-visitors-so-far-in-november-over-double-the-closest-country/

By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Russian tourists have hit the top of Phuket visitors in the past ten days. Phuket Immigration at the Phuket International Airport reported the current arrival statistics from November 1st to November 10th, 2022. The total number of international tourists is 75,247. Of those Russian nationals are leading with 18,370 visitors so far. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/11/11/russian-tourists-top-phuket-charts-for-most-visitors-so-far-in-november-over-double-the-closest-country/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-11-11 - 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!

Senior monk in sex molestation case of novices arrested at famous hotel in Bangkok Picture: Thai Rath A senior monk from a temple in Nan, northern Thailand, has been arrested at the Royal Hotel in Ratchadamnoen, Bangkok, on a warrant for sexual molestation of minors under 15. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277452-senior-monk-in-sex-molestation-case-of-novices-arrested-at-famous-hotel-in-bangkok/

Picture: Thai Rath A senior monk from a temple in Nan, northern Thailand, has been arrested at the Royal Hotel in Ratchadamnoen, Bangkok, on a warrant for sexual molestation of minors under 15. Suspicions about Phra Maha Aphiwan, 41, had been investigated by Muang district police in Nan before a warrant was obtained. While that was being processed the monk fled south. He is connected to the secretariat of the abbot's office at Wat Phrathat Chang Kham. One novice monk said he had been abused for two years. He said that if he refused to take part in the sexual abuse or revealed what was going on he would lose his educational bursary. As the investigation proceeded another novice came forward with a similar story. Aphiwan admitted what he had done but said it was a private matter and not connected to the temple itself. He was taken back north to face the charges. Thai Rath said they had information that the errant monk had accessed gay porn sites on his phone. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

Tim Newton Today - Nov 11: Russians flooding into Thailand, Putin NOT coming to APEC in Bangkok Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277451-tim-newton-today-nov-11-russians-flooding-into-thailand-putin-not-coming-to-apec-in-bangkok/

Russian travellers are, by far, the most numbers travellers to Thailand at the moment. But their President is not coming to Bangkok next week. Media bet about the PM switching sides. Smoked bats on the menu and the President's Xi and Biden face to face meeting next week in Bali. Tim Newton Today is a daily, independent look at Thai and south East Asian regional news. Thanks to our sponsor 5 Star Marine in Phuket... https://5starmarinephuket.com Link to Forward Keys article in program... https://forwardkeys.com/the-most-visi...

Fears that Thais will NOT get to watch World Cup on TV after all - SAT go cap in hand to FIFA Picture: Siam Rath With just nine days to go before the biggest show on earth kicks off - the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - it looks as though Thais may not get to see the event on national TV after all. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277450-fears-that-thais-will-not-get-to-watch-world-cup-on-tv-after-all-sat-go-cap-in-hand-to-fifa/

Picture: Siam Rath With just nine days to go before the biggest show on earth kicks off - the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - it looks as though Thais may not get to see the event on national TV after all. Siam Rath reported comments by the chief of the Sports Authority of Thailand after the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission stepped in with 600 million baht from a fund. There is still a 1 BILLION baht shortfall for the rights to broadcast the event. This will need to be made up by the private sector, said Dr Kongsak Yortmanee. And so far no one has stepped up to the plate to offer the money. "It's not sure that Thais will get to watch the World Cup," he said ominously. He said he had no idea where a figure of 1.2 billion baht had come from. The figure was 1.6 billion and the SAT has so far received just 600 million. He said that the SAT had been in touch with FIFA to discount the rights money as Thailand very much wanted to broadcast the games. He said that people would just have to "wait and see" what transpires. ASEAN NOW notes that for decades the quadrennial tournament has been shown on terrestrial Thai TV and in many past years there have been situations akin to this. But a way has always been found to satisfy football mad Thais. It is possible that last minute brinkmanship and wheeler dealing by big players in the private sector is underway before an announcement is made. For many, the idea that the tournament would not be shown free-to-air in the kingdom is unthinkable. Watch this space. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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

Thailand’s new liquor regulation: Small brewers’ delight or business as usual? Although the government has issued a new regulation promising to liberalize Thailand’s alcohol sector, critics see little hope of small brewers breaking the market domination of a few giant producers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277449-thailand’s-new-liquor-regulation-small-brewers’-delight-or-business-as-usual/

Although the government has issued a new regulation promising to liberalize Thailand’s alcohol sector, critics see little hope of small brewers breaking the market domination of a few giant producers. “Nothing has really changed in practice,” Move Forward MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn said. “Aspiring small-time brewers still face complicated processes and imminent dead ends.” The new regulation Enacted on November 2, the new ministerial regulation on liquor and beer production removes curbs on small manufacturers. Previously, small brewers were allowed to hire up to seven people and have a maximum production capacity of 5 horsepower. However, under the new regulation, small breweries can use the machinery of 50 horsepower and employ up to 50 workers. The regulation also removes the restrictions on brewpubs’ minimum registered capital and production capacity. Previously, brewpubs had to produce between 100,000 and 1 million liters per year. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-new-liquor-regulation-small-brewers-delight-or-business-as-usual/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-11-11 - 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!

Video: Passenger train collides head on with truck at level crossing in northern Thailand Daily News Thai Caption: Head on (collision). Dramatic footage taken by a motorist with a mobile phone and posted on Facebook showed the moment when a passenger train collided head on with a ten wheel truck/trailer carrying rice husks. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277448-video-passenger-train-collides-head-on-with-truck-at-level-crossing-in-northern-thailand/

Daily News Thai Caption: Head on (collision). Dramatic footage taken by a motorist with a mobile phone and posted on Facebook showed the moment when a passenger train collided head on with a ten wheel truck/trailer carrying rice husks. It happened at a level crossing at Ban Lai, Mae Tha district of Lamphun. There were no reports of injuries as yet after the collision just before midday yesterday. The driver of the truck managed to get out in time. Picture: Daily News Reports on Facebook suggested that the driver of the truck had half gone over the crossing before a barrier descended on his trailer impeding his progress. Unable to go forward or backwards due to backed up traffic he decided to jump out as the train approached. Daily News reported that comment was rife online about the alleged negligence of the trucker. Posters suggested that there would have been warning sirens and he was trying to get across when he should have waited. Picture: Daily News They wanted to see him prosecuted fully in the matter. Passengers were seen getting off the train in the aftermath of the collision. More on this as we hear of it at ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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 media report on tourism: It's well on the mend - Brits top list of Europeans but weed/Covid worries hinder Japanese Picture: Thai Rath Thailand's leading media Thai Rath compiled a sensible report on the reemergence of tourism in Thailand post pandemic, suggests ASEAN NOW. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1277444-thai-media-report-on-tourism-its-well-on-the-mend-brits-top-list-of-europeans-but-weedcovid-worries-hinder-japanese/

Picture: Thai Rath Thailand's leading media Thai Rath compiled a sensible report on the reemergence of tourism in Thailand post pandemic, suggests ASEAN NOW. The country is well on the way to reaching a ten million target for 2022 even though that would still only be 25% of pre-pandemic levels. But problems remain over some countries perception of Covid in Thailand and there are concerns about the legalization of marijuana that happened in June and its affect on tourism. Most tellingly, not once in Thai Rath's report was the biggest tourism elephant in the room mentioned - China. Though India featured as one of the leading countries providing tourists to the kingdom - half a million so far this year. Brits and Americans were around a quarter of a million. Thai Rath said that anecdotal evidence of the return of tourists to Thailand could be seen in the number of TikTok posts by tourists, especially in the last 3-4 months since many Covid requirements were scrapped. The "TikTok Barometer" also gave evidence of how many Thais were travelling abroad despite high prices for air tickets. The raw data shows that from January to September inclusive 5,688,035 foreign tourists entered Thailand. An infographic of the numbers from each country showed the following top ten: 1. Malaysians 974, 844 2. Indians 572,151 3. Singaporeans 313,792, 4. Vietnamese 269,442 5. Laotians 259,118 6. South Koreans 243,015 7. British 239,761 8. Americans 225,909 9. Cambodians 208,322 10. Germans 189,889. Another infographic showed where foreign tourists were mostly going with Bangkok far and away the top of the list. The Thai capital Bangkok was followed by 2. Chonburi (the location of Pattaya) 3. Kanchanaburi 4. Prajuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin's location) 5. Phetchaburi 6. Chiang Mai 7. Ayutthaya 8. Nakhon Ratchasima 9. Chiang Rai 10. Chachoengsao. How the figures in this analysis were arrived at was not fully explained. Indeed given the fact that Malaysians represented the most number of tourists, Songkhla not being on the list might raise eyebrows. Thai Rath based most of their analysis on the comments of the chief of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Sisadiwat Chiwaratanaporn. He said that the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand had made great efforts to promote tourism this year and their 10 million target for 2022 can be reached with 7 million already achieved according to unofficial estimates. Picture: Thai Rath With two months to go and what with it being high season 10 million is very much on the cards. Around 40 million foreign tourists visited in 2019, however, with Chinese tourists making up at least 20% of that figure, notes ASEAN NOW. Two nations whose nationals have not returned in anticipated numbers are South Koreans but especially the Japanese, said Sisadiwat. "It won't be until 2024 until tourism from those two countries is back to normal," he said. The lack of quarantine now has been well articulated, but there is still concern in both countries about the Covid numbers as no one wants to return with the disease after taking a holiday. It was important for Thailand to engage in PR to explain the Covid situation using influencers, bloggers and YouTubers as part of marketing strategies. Marijuana was also a big concern in both Korea and Japan who still list use of the drug as a criminal offence. Sisawadi said that the main problem was tourists who might ingest the drug unknowingly through food and then test positively in random tests when returning to Japan. There people have faced 5 year jail terms and fines of 200,000 baht for having traces of the drug in their urine. "It's causing concern for many countries," he said."Thailand's marijuana stance and rules need to be carefully explained and handled delicately. "Its addition in food needs to be carefully controlled and explained to tourists. Some don't know it is going in food and get a nasty shock when tested after flying home". Picture: Thai Rath Asked about the number of neighboring countries' tourists visiting Thailand he said that the number was not up at all, it was all quite normal. In 2019 1.9 million Malaysians visited. It was Koreans and Japanese that needed to be targeted. Also of note was the number of Indians that made up more than half a million and put them second on the arrivals list. Sisawadi stressed that an important area where Thailand needed to make sure that it has got its tourism act in order is at international airports. Booths need to be fully manned so that tourists are not kept waiting and that their initial impressions are positive. Negative stories in this regard have already appeared in the Thai press and online, notes ASEAN NOW, as the Thai Immigration Bureau scurry to open more booths and deflect criticism. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-11-11 - 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! 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