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US President Joe Biden will use his visit to Cambodia next month for a summit with ASEAN to reaffirm the US commitment to Southeast Asia, according to the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent Biden in attending the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders in Bangkok, it said. A statement issued by the White House said Biden will be in Cambodia on November 12-13 to participate in the annual US-ASEAN summit and the East Asia summit before proceeding toIndonesia to attend a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/biden-to-join-asean-summit-harris-to-attend-apec/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

21 best Thai dishes for 21 Economic leaders at APEC Future Food for Sustainability competition by Tarin Angskul BANGKOK (NNT) - H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs chairs the opening ceremony of Plate to Planet Festival in front of the Central World Plaza shopping mall. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276280-21-best-thai-dishes-for-21-economic-leaders-at-apec-future-food-for-sustainability-competition/

by Tarin Angskul BANGKOK (NNT) - H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs chairs the opening ceremony of Plate to Planet Festival in front of the Central World Plaza shopping mall. The event aims to promote the last 21 best Thai dishes in the final round of the APEC Future Food for Sustainability competition. The winning team will have their dishes served to leaders at the 2022 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week next month. With the growing trend of sustainability, the competition aims to find dishes of the future that emphasize sustainability with a blend of Thai elements. Some 2,000 teams of contestants had a chance to create new dishes, under the guidance of culinary experts. Mr. Anucha Nakasai, Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, said this competition gives Thai chefs the opportunity to enhance their skills and expand their businesses, while further promoting Thai cuisine which has been recognized as the country’s key soft power. The winning team will get 1 million baht and have their dishes served to world leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, which will be taking place on 14-19 November in Thailand. Vote for the last 21 best Thai dishes at www.futurefoodapec.com Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221029211241079 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-10-31 - 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!

Police rescue 13-year-old girl from prostitution in Malaysia, arrest five Police from Thailand’s Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Division, with cooperation from Malaysian police, have rescued two Thai females, one of them being a 13-year-old girl, and two Indonesian females and have arrested five members of a human trafficking gang involved in delivering women to Malaysia for prostitution. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276279-police-rescue-13-year-old-girl-from-prostitution-in-malaysia-arrest-five/

Police from Thailand’s Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Division, with cooperation from Malaysian police, have rescued two Thai females, one of them being a 13-year-old girl, and two Indonesian females and have arrested five members of a human trafficking gang involved in delivering women to Malaysia for prostitution. One of the suspects was apprehended in Chachoengsao Province and the second in Chon Buri. Three others were arrested after they had fled to Malaysia for temporary refuge. Pol Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said Sunday that police had recently received a complaint from the parents of the young girl, claiming that their daughter had been lured to work in Malaysia and then forced into prostitution. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-rescue-13-year-old-girl-from-prostitution-in-malaysia-arrest-five/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

Most Bangkokians Prefer Move Forward Party Leader For PM: NIDA Poll By Thai Newsroom Reporters Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Photo: INN News MOST BANGKOKIANS prefer Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become prime minister after the next general election, says a recent opinion poll. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276278-most-bangkokians-prefer-move-forward-party-leader-for-pm-nida-poll/

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Photo: INN News By Thai Newsroom Reporters MOST BANGKOKIANS prefer Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become prime minister after the next general election, says a recent opinion poll. According to the National Institute of Development Administration’s (NIDA) poll conducted among 2,000 Bangkok residents earlier this month, 20.40% of all respondents preferred the Move Forward top leader the most for head of a post-election government. The NIDA poll has found 15.20% of the respondents of the capital city picking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has been allowed by court to prolong his rule until 2025, for prime minister again whilst 14.10% of the Bangkokians chose Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai party boss/former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/10/30/most-bangkokians-prefer-move-forward-party-leader-for-pm-nida-poll/ -- © Copyright THAI NEWSROOM 2022-10-31 - 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!

Prayut Supporter Pareena Against Allowing Foreigners To Own Land by TNR Staff Comment Former MP Pareena Kraikupt hugging Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in above photo, and right in Front Page photo with Gen. Prayut at left. Top photo: Matichon Weekly JOINING THE chorus of criticism on the government having approved in principle the drafting of a ministerial regulation allowing foreigners to buy maximum one rai of land for residential purposes conditional on investing at least 40 million baht for minimum three years is Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s staunch supporter Pareena Kraikupt, Naewna newspaper said Saturday (Oct. 29). Pareena. who was earlier this year deprived by court of her MP status and banned for life from politics due to deliberate encroachment upon a forest reserve in Ratchaburi, posted a message saying that people do not want to exchange land in Thailand for foreign investment. “Sacrifice money to spur the economy, sacrifice even life to protect land in Thailand for our children and grandchildren similar to what our ancestors did,” she wrote. “In the future even though our children live in Thailand, it is in terms of… renting… with the village group headmen and the village headmen being foreigners. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/10/29/prayut-supporter-pareena-against-allowing-foreigners-to-own-land/ -- © Copyright THAI NEWSROOM 2022-10-31 - 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!

Russian Tourists Flocking To Koh Samui by TNR Staff Comment European tourists arriving at Koh Samui airport. Photos: Naewna THE outlook of Koh Samui this high season is bright with a large number of European tourists escaping the winter there to enjoy the sunshine here and amid this is the noteworthy return of Russian holidaymakers, Naewna newspaper said Sunday evening (Oct. 30). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276277-russian-tourists-flocking-to-koh-samui/

European tourists arriving at Koh Samui airport. Photos: Naewna by TNR Staff Comment THE outlook of Koh Samui this high season is bright with a large number of European tourists escaping the winter there to enjoy the sunshine here and amid this is the noteworthy return of Russian holidaymakers, Naewna newspaper said Sunday evening (Oct. 30). Mr. Ratchaporn Poolsawat, president of Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, said a survey of local and foreign travel agents shows that the number of tourists visiting Koh Samui from early December to the end of the month would be approximately the same as pre-Covid-19 days. While advance bookings are satisfactory, it has been observed that tourists are making shorter bookings prior to their arrival and entrepreneurs were urged to adjust their advertising and public relations campaigns to spur the market. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/10/30/russian-tourists-flocking-to-koh-samui/ -- © Copyright THAI NEWSROOM 2022-10-31 - 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!

Thai opposition to seeks no-vote censure debate against the government Thai opposition parties will submit a motion to the House Speaker in mid-November, seeking a general censure debate on the government, without a vote, to “grill” it over illegal gambling and drug abuse issues and to offer recommendations to the government. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276276-thai-opposition-to-seeks-no-vote-censure-debate-against-the-government/

Thai opposition parties will submit a motion to the House Speaker in mid-November, seeking a general censure debate on the government, without a vote, to “grill” it over illegal gambling and drug abuse issues and to offer recommendations to the government. Opposition and Pheu Thai Party Leader Chonlanan Srikaew said Saturday that he expects the censure debate to take place in the middle of December, which he admitted might not be the optimum timing, as people would be in a festive mood ahead of Christmas and New Year and might not pay attention to the debate. He pointed out that, if the opposition does not seize the opportunity now, they might miss the chance altogether, because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha might dissolve the House after the APEC Summit in Bangkok next month, before the end of its term. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-opposition-to-seeks-no-vote-censure-debate-against-the-government/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

Thailand eases restrictions on import of cannabis or hemp seeds A new edict has been issued by the Department of Agriculture to ease restrictions on the import of cannabis and hemp seeds. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276275-thailand-eases-restrictions-on-import-of-cannabis-or-hemp-seeds/

A new edict has been issued by the Department of Agriculture to ease restrictions on the import of cannabis and hemp seeds. Effective today (Saturday), cannabis and hemp seeds can be shipped to Thailand from abroad by air, sea or overland, instead of by air alone, as previously stipulated. There is no longer a requirement for the seeds to be treated with fungicide and, hence, there is no need to specify the fungicide or the amount used in the disinfection process in the plant safety certificate. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-eases-restrictions-on-import-of-cannabis-or-hemp-seeds/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

Lack of psychiatrists leaves Thailand grappling with rising suicides, depression The number of people in Thailand suffering from mental problems rose from 1.3 million in 2015 to 2.3 million last year, while the number of suicides is also on the increase. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276274-lack-of-psychiatrists-leaves-thailand-grappling-with-rising-suicides-depression/

The number of people in Thailand suffering from mental problems rose from 1.3 million in 2015 to 2.3 million last year, while the number of suicides is also on the increase. These alarming figures suggest the country’s mental health is a ticking time bomb that needs to be tackled urgently to avoid the disastrous effects of an explosion. Wasted lives One mother told Thai PBS World of her anguish as she watches her son’s life spiral out of control after he chose a path of drug abuse to deal with his mental issues. “I noticed the change in his behavior, but could not afford treatment,” the mother said on condition of anonymity. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/lack-of-psychiatrists-leaves-thailand-grappling-with-rising-suicides-depression/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

Thai police end Chinese-run online gambling operation in Bangkok Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Centre broke up a major Chinese-owned online gambling operation on Friday. The organisation is reported to have had about 500 million baht in daily turnover and operated from a hotel in the Hua Mark area of Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276273-thai-police-end-chinese-run-online-gambling-operation-in-bangkok/

Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Centre broke up a major Chinese-owned online gambling operation on Friday. The organisation is reported to have had about 500 million baht in daily turnover and operated from a hotel in the Hua Mark area of Bangkok. About 50 people, mostly Chinese, were found in the hotel, along with 50 computer notebooks and 53 smart phones. Police said that all of them helped to operate the online gambling site, with some in charge of tending to the server and others working as administrators and sales people, persuading potential customers, mostly Chinese, to gamble through their website. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-police-end-chinese-run-online-gambling-operation-in-bangkok/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

Pheu Thai Party opposes land ownership by foreigners The opposition Pheu Thai Party voiced its strong opposition today (Saturday) to the government’s plan to allow certain foreigners to buy up to 0.16 hectares (one rai) of land for residential purposes, hoping that the scheme will boost foreign investment and spur the economy. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276272-thai-government-defends-foreign-land-ownership-plan/?do=findComment&comment=17695097

Thai government defends foreign land ownership plan The government’s plan to allow foreigners to own a limited amount of land in Thailand is intended to benefit the Thai people and the government is not “selling off” the country to foreigners, as alleged by some, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Tipanan Sirichana on Sunday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276272-thai-government-defends-foreign-land-ownership-plan/

Pheu Thai Party opposes land ownership by foreigners The opposition Pheu Thai Party voiced its strong opposition today (Saturday) to the government’s plan to allow certain foreigners to buy up to 0.16 hectares (one rai) of land for residential purposes, hoping that the scheme will boost foreign investment and spur the economy. In its statement, the Pheu Thai Party warned that the foreign ownership of land will have extensive implications for the Thai people, at a time when many do not have a house or a piece of land of their own. In the future, the party said that Thai people will have to pay more to buy land, because this policy of allowing foreigners to buy land in Thailand will lead to speculation. On Tuesday, the cabinet approved an edict from the Interior Ministry, allowing certain qualified foreigners to buy up to 0.16 hectares in Bangkok, Pattaya and other municipalities and areas specified by law. The edict will be reviewed in five years. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pheu-thai-party-opposes-land-ownership-by-foreigners/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

The government’s plan to allow foreigners to own a limited amount of land in Thailand is intended to benefit the Thai people and the government is not “selling off” the country to foreigners, as alleged by some, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Tipanan Sirichana on Sunday. Responding to the Pheu Thai Party’s strong opposition to the plan, she explained that only four specific groups of foreigners, who have already obtained long-term resident visas and who meet the requirements, will be allowed to own up to 0.16 hectares (one rai) of land for residential purposes. The four groups are: 1. Wealthy global citizens who each have assets worth at least one million US dollars, an annual income of at least at US$80,000 for the past two years and who have invested a minimum of US$500,000 in Thailand. 2. Wealthy pensioners who are over 50-years-old who each have assets of one million US dollars, an annual income of US$80,000 or who have a minimum income of US$40,000 a year and have invested at least US$250,000 in Thailand. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-government-defends-foreign-land-ownership-plan/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!

to continue: Thailand Live Monday 31 October 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1276271-thailand-live-monday-31-october-2022/

People look at the scene there the October 29 Halloween stampede occured in the capital’s popular Itaewon district in Seoul on October 30, 2022. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) One Thai dies as another recounts her Halloween nightmare in Seoul A Thai tourist is confirmed to have died in the Halloween stampede in South Korea, Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul confirmed today (Sunday). No further information on the fatality is available at the time of this report. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1276270-one-thai-dies-as-another-recounts-her-halloween-nightmare-in-seoul/

People look at the scene there the October 29 Halloween stampede occured in the capital’s popular Itaewon district in Seoul on October 30, 2022. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) A Thai tourist is confirmed to have died in the Halloween stampede in South Korea, Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul confirmed today (Sunday). No further information on the fatality is available at the time of this report. Another Thai tourist, identified as Laksamika Deeprasai, expressed her shock at seeing large numbers of people dying right in front of her during the stampede incident in the Itaewon area in Seoul of South Korea last night (Saturday). Laksamika explained to Thai PBS reporters that, at about 10pm local time in South Korea, she was about to meet her friend when she found that the alley was extremely crowded. She said she felt the pressure of people on both sides as she walked down the middle of the alley. As the alley is on a hill, she explained that, if one person falls over, other people will fall over each other, which led to people suffocating and dying. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/one-thai-dies-as-another-recounts-her-halloween-nightmare-in-seoul/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-31 - 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!