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APEC finance ministers’ meeting to take place in Bangkok on October 19-20 by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - The APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) will commence in Bangkok on Wednesday (19 October), with the Ministry of Finance being the host. The bloc’s finance ministers will discuss many topics pertaining to post-pandemic economic recovery. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275088-apec-finance-ministers’-meeting-to-take-place-in-bangkok-on-october-19-20/

by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - The APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) will commence in Bangkok on Wednesday (19 October), with the Ministry of Finance being the host. The bloc’s finance ministers will discuss many topics pertaining to post-pandemic economic recovery. Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja said the APEC finance ministers’ meeting and associated meetings will take place on October 19 and 20. 250 representatives from the 21 APEC economies and international organizations will attend the meeting. On October 19, the APEC finance ministers will discuss the overall picture of the post-pandemic economy. They will also engage in issues such as supporting economic recovery and obstacles to the said recovery, as well as economic growth promotion. The latter will involve subtopics such as the digital economy and investing in the environment. On October 20, the finance ministers will discuss the current financial situation and tendencies, in addition to upcoming challenges for economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, meeting participants will discuss the implementation of APEC policies and agendas that are being pursued by 2022 APEC host Thailand. These agendas include accessibility to funding sources for sustainable development and using digital technology to facilitate transitions to digital economies. Furthermore, participants will discuss the progress in implementing the Cebu Action Plan. Mr. Pornchai indicated the finance ministry expects to use findings from this week’s meetings to develop financial products that will contribute to sustainable development. The ministry will also use the findings to develop a financial environment that is conducive to sustainable development. The next APEC FMM will be hosted by the United States. The event is expected to be held in October 2023. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221018112346700 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-10-18 - 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!

Cat burglar arrested - he had plans to hit former RTP chief's house Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on the arrest of a cat burglar by the Samut Prakan provincial police yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275087-cat-burglar-arrested-he-had-plans-to-hit-former-rtp-chiefs-house/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on the arrest of a cat burglar by the Samut Prakan provincial police yesterday. Bualuang Wangkheere, 48, a native of Phitsanulok, was named in a warrant for burglary in the hours of darkness. He was arrested in a rented room at Udomsuk Tower, floor 7, in Sukhumvit Road Soi 103 in the Bang Na area of Bangkok. The media had a picture of him pointing to some of the huge amount of loot that was recovered. There were about 60 items including 40 baht weight in gold bars, luxury watches, necklaces, diamonds, vintage banknotes as well as diamond assessing equipment. Also found were ten hand written pages of notes and plans detailing where he planned to strike next. These included the homes of civil servants, teachers and professors and policemen including a former chief of the Royal Thai Police. Picture: Thai Rath The arrest was mounted following a theft at a house in the Evergreen Ville housing estate in Bang Plee on October 9th. The suspect admitted to climbing upstairs at the property. Picture: Thai Rath He said that he had got the plans for thefts from other inmates while he was in prison for theft. When he was released he got to work. The owner(s) of the property are being contacted. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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

Min of Finance making another revision to 2022 and 2023 economic projections by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Finance is preparing to roll out a new set of economic stimuli before the end of this year, in line with the government’s tradition to introduce the so-called gift packages for the general public. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275086-min-of-finance-making-another-revision-to-2022-and-2023-economic-projections/

by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Finance is preparing to roll out a new set of economic stimuli before the end of this year, in line with the government’s tradition to introduce the so-called gift packages for the general public. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has announced it is expecting a new set of economic measures from the Ministry of Finance. FPO Director General Pornchai Thiraveja will hold talks with Minister of Finance Arkhom Termpittayapaisith regarding the matter soon. While no specific details have been announced, the ministry has said it will be considering a request from private firms to revive a tax rebate scheme for eligible spending during the end-of-year period. Mr. Pornchai said the office has not received any report about a possible extension of the 50:50 co-pay campaign. The current phase will end on 30 October. The state welfare campaign for this year has seen 21.45 million applicants. The FPO says these rather high applications are a result of pandemic-driven economic impacts. The FPO chief says the Thai economy this year is expected to grow within the target margin between 3% and 3.5% this year, thanks to the recovery of the tourism sector. Thailand is expected to welcome more international tourists next year, as more countries reopen their borders. The Thai economy is expected to grow by 4% next year, with more foreign currencies flowing into the country. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221018105804681 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-10-18 - 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!

Monk drunk with an axe ordered back to the temple - says he drank beer for his blood pressure and diabetes video screenshot A monk with mental health issues spooked residents of a housing estate in Muang district of Kamphaengphet, NW Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275082-monk-drunk-with-an-axe-ordered-back-to-the-temple-says-he-drank-beer-for-his-blood-pressure-and-diabetes/

video screenshot A monk with mental health issues spooked residents of a housing estate in Muang district of Kamphaengphet, NW Thailand. He was wandering around drunk with an axe creating fear. He was stopped by administrative staff who ordered that he be taken back to his temple and dealt with by the authorities there. He claimed that he drank beer for his blood pressure and diabetes. He had earlier been ordered to stay in the temple grounds but defied this, reported Thai PBS with a video of the incident. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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

Utterly tragic: Scene of Thailand's mass shooting cleaned up; parents can't collect kids, just their bags and shoes Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported with utterly tragic pictures on the clean-up of the crime scene at the nursery in Uthai Sawan, Nong Bualamphu NE Thailand, the scene of a mass shooting and stabbing incident. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275080-utterly-tragic-scene-of-thailands-mass-shooting-cleaned-up-parents-cant-collect-kids-just-their-bags-and-shoes/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported with utterly tragic pictures on the clean-up of the crime scene at the nursery in Uthai Sawan, Nong Bualamphu NE Thailand, the scene of a mass shooting and stabbing incident. Former Na Wang policeman Sgt Panya Khamrap killed almost two dozen children at the school. In total 38 people lost their lives before Panya took his own. Picture: Siam Rath In a Facebook post Chaisiri Butayo described how it was his duty to clean the school. He posted that he had gathered up the possessions of the "little angels" for the grieving parents to collect. The tragic pictures included school bags with names and shoes belonging to the victims many aged 2 and 3. Picture: Siam Rath That was all that was left to collect for the parents and relatives of one of Thailand's most shocking mass murders in history that occurred 12 days ago. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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 Picture: Siam Rath Picture: Siam Rath

Trat tourism declared "all white": Police 'proactive' in trying to solve problem of illegal drugs Daily News Thai Caption: Inspiring confidence! Daily News reported that the tourist police in the popular tourism areas of Trat in eastern Thailand were being proactive to inspire confidence among tourists. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275079-trat-tourism-declared-all-white-police-proactive-in-trying-to-solve-problem-of-illegal-drugs/

Daily News Thai Caption: Inspiring confidence! Daily News reported that the tourist police in the popular tourism areas of Trat in eastern Thailand were being proactive to inspire confidence among tourists. Lt-Col Pattanapong Siricharoen said that he was acting on orders from RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat and tourism police chief Pol Lt-Gen Sukhun Phrommayon to do something about the drug menace. Picture: Daily News Tourist areas were visited and the drivers of public vehicles and boats were tested for drugs. This would also help prevent crime. Daily News did not report if any drivers or boat captains tested positive. It was all about the PR. Pattanapong said that drugs were a menace to society in general and tourism in particular. Picture: Daily News He declared that his intention was to make Trat a "White Tourism Area". This appeared to relate to being drug-free and safe. ASEAN NOW notes that the RTP have been scurrying to create renewed confidence in the force after it took a further battering in the massacre in the north east by a former cop mixed up in meth. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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 top stand-up comedian sticks nose into political divide (Photo by thaistandupcomedy Facebook page) Stand-up comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich is under the spotlight after jokes in his latest show drew criticism and ignited an online clash between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275078-thailand’s-top-stand-up-comedian-sticks-nose-into-political-divide/

(Photo by thaistandupcomedy Facebook page) Stand-up comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich is under the spotlight after jokes in his latest show drew criticism and ignited an online clash between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Some observers see the drama as proof that the deep and long-standing divide in Thai society is no closer to being healed. The two sides have been trading heated arguments on social media since October 11, when Udom’s “Deaw 13” show debuted on Netflix. The 54-year-old comedian performed 10 rounds of his show between June 10 and 19 to a packed audience at the 5,000-seat Royal Paragon Hall. However, the public drama over his jibes directed at General Prayut only erupted after the show reached the masses via online streaming. Intentional or not, the controversy helped propel “Deaw 13” to No 1 position in the streaming service’s “Top 10 TV Shows in Thailand Today”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-top-stand-up-comedian-sticks-nose-into-political-divide/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-10-18 - 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!

Ladyboys arrested in bizarre cult fraud - three nurses and 2 children held in BKK condo for 3 years Daily News Thai Caption: Cult leaders arrested A bizarre case of cultism and fraud is emerging after the arrest of two transgender individuals in the Thai capital Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275077-ladyboys-arrested-in-bizarre-cult-fraud-three-nurses-and-2-children-held-in-bkk-condo-for-3-years/

Daily News Thai Caption: Cult leaders arrested A bizarre case of cultism and fraud is emerging after the arrest of two transgender individuals in the Thai capital Bangkok. Haru, 39, and Tripetchratana, 20, were arrested on warrants issued by the Taling Chan court for causing grievous bodily harm and a string of other crimes relating to illegal detention and menacing behavior. They held three former nurses and two children against their will at a luxury condo in the Rama 8 area of the city. The victims were held for three years and subjected to torture like having boiling water poured on them. The children were assaulted by slapping. It has been alleged that if they were not slapped hard enough it had to be done again. The victims had their heads shaven. Deputy met chief Pol Maj-Gen Thiradech Thammasuthee said that the ladyboys were not Koreans as had earlier been suggested in the media. They are Thais. Picture: Daily News They allegedly tricked their victims into believing that they were Korean and that the victims owed millions of baht. The transgenders are now being interrogated at the Bowon Mongkhon police station. In a later report Daily News said that a large number of books, drawings and religious paraphenalia had been found at the condo. Haru has denied the charges except pouring boiling water on the victims. He said that he was employed by UNICEF in a research capacity in South Korea and Thailand on various projects and had studied jewelry design in the UK. He claimed to have studied medicine in Korea though he had not graduated and further claimed to have been a doctor's assistant at Chula in the pandemic. Picture: Daily News Police have discovered that he was charged with fraud in Thonburi in 2019 and Thong Lo in 2014 and has changed his name 9 times. Tripetchratana has admitted guilt on all charges but blamed Haru for telling him what to do. He astonished police by describing how he was ordered to get money from the victims' friends and family. He said that the adult victims were ordered to assault the children and if it was not done to Haru's liking it was repeated. He claimed to have been attacked by the nurses originally. Investigations into the case continue. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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 - Oct 18: Battle to reverse Thailand's Cannabis splurge, flood report Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275075-tim-newton-today-oct-18-battle-to-reverse-thailands-cannabis-splurge-flood-report/

Leading opposition party is taking Bhum Jai Thai to court over its policy to decriminalise Cannabis and hemp, Thai survey takes tough stance on drugs. Thailand gets pushback after 'neutral' vote over Russia at UN. Tim Newton Today is a daily, independent look at Thai and south East Asian regional news.

UPDATE: Jailed and blacklisted: Frenchmen in attack on Thai man ordered held by court - driver is Hua Hin man with Thai wife Picture: Daily News Two French men arrested for an attack on a Thai motorcyclist who was knocked unconscious on Saturday night have been ordered held without bail by the court in Koh Samui southern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275074-jailed-and-blacklisted-frenchmen-in-attack-on-thai-man-ordered-held-by-court-driver-is-hua-hin-man-with-thai-wife/

Jailed and blacklisted: Frenchmen in attack on Thai man ordered held by court - driver is Hua Hin man with Thai wife Picture: Daily News Two French men arrested for an attack on a Thai motorcyclist who was knocked unconscious on Saturday night have been ordered held without bail by the court in Koh Samui southern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275074-jailed-and-blacklisted-frenchmen-in-attack-on-thai-man-ordered-held-by-court-driver-is-hua-hin-man-with-thai-wife/

Picture: Daily News Two French men arrested for an attack on a Thai motorcyclist who was knocked unconscious on Saturday night have been ordered held without bail by the court in Koh Samui southern Thailand. The attack happened in the Chawaeng area of the holiday island. Video footage that can be seen on YouTube here showed the passenger of a red plate white Porsche attack Somkhuan Songkhot with fists and kicks. He is still in ICU. Picture: Siam Rath The Porsche had tailgated Somkhuan's bike after his wife who was riding pillion had remarked on the beauty of the car and wanting one. Daily News suggested there had been a collision without giving further evidence. Now further details have emerged about the two men in the luxury car who Siam Rath named in English as 34 year old Bugeya Vincent Raymond, the passenger who assaulted Somkhuan, and Vincent Julien Gerard Rene, 28, the driver. Daily News called them businessmen. Yesterday Pol Capt Sirachat Kamunee of the Bo Phut police took both men to court where Lakhana, 47, opposed bail. Picture: Daily News They were then taken to the Koh Samui District Prison where they will be held as police and prosecutors prepare the case against them. They have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and driving a motor vehicle with a red plate at night. Whether they were drunk or not at the time of the attack is as yet undetermined. Sirachat said that is because when they were arrested they were drinking in a bar. They had alcohol readings of more than 100 mg each. They had not taken drugs. Surat Thani immigration chief Pol Col Supharik Phankoson said that the man who actually attacked Somkhuan was in Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa after arriving from Munich, Germany, on September 19th at Suvarnabhumi. His visa was up today. He gave his address as Hua Hin. Picture: Daily News The driver of the Porsche was on a one year marriage visa (he has a Thai wife) and was permitted to stay in Thailand until August 26th next year. He lives in Hua Hin with his wife and child or children. He had made a total of 28 visits to Thailand his last one being in May this year. The pair were holidaying in Samui after arriving on October 4th. The 28 year old's wife and children had already returned to Hua Hin. Both men will be recommended for blacklisting, said Col Supharik. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-10-18 - 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

The ‘H.O.G.S’ are coming to Cha-Am! By Editor Asia Harley Days 2022 is an iconic moto-music festival, making a debut in Asia at Cha-Am Beach in November. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275065-the-‘hogs’-are-coming-to-cha-am/

By Editor Asia Harley Days 2022 is an iconic moto-music festival, making a debut in Asia at Cha-Am Beach in November. This will be a big weekend presented by Harley-Davidson Asia over two days especially for Harley Davidson enthusiasts with participants from over eleven countries, 80 H.O.G. Chapters and 100 motorcycle clubs. The festival will include stunt performances, fun contests and some great music. The stunt show is a high-octane motorcycle spectacle, with Joe (Krittinun Liebyai), a 30-year-old Thai high-octane motorcycle rider with 15 years of bike experience and the team on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The festival gates open on Saturday 5th November from 4 P.M. with the arrival of a parade with the theme of “Let Freedom Roar” by a motorcade of riders from Rajabhakti Park to the event venue. Event organisers describe this parade as “the best demonstration of brotherhood, friendship, and adventure that encourages the Asia Harley Days 2022 to be the bike festival of the year.” On Sunday 6th November the festival program continues from 11 A.M. The Festival Venue is the Triple Tree Beach Resort, that’s at the northern end of the main Cha-Am beach, just before reaching the fishing boat harbour. What’s a H.O.G.? The Harley Owners Group is a sponsored community marketing club, operated by Harley-Davidson for enthusiasts of that brand’s motorcycles. The HOG is described as “the grandaddy of all community-building efforts, serving to promote not just a consumer product, but a lifestyle.” Further information with registration details for Harley enthusiasts can be found at www.asiaharleydays.com Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/10/the-h-o-g-s-are-coming-to-cha-am/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-10-18 - 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!

NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Tuesday October 18 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1275062-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-tuesday-october-18-2022/

Listen to the news: Two people have been confirm as having the new sub variant of Covid-9 called ‘XBB’ One 60 year old woman arrived from Hong Kong the another a 47 year old Thai national had arrived from Singapore, both suffered mild symptoms and have fully recovered since testing positive last month. Health authorities are confident the new variant does not cause severe conditions. Police have arrested a man in Narathiwat with almost 200 thousand methamphetamine pills in his possession. Police set up a checkpoint after receiving a tipoff, then managed to stop a pickup containing the drugs, the 41 year old driver said he was paid 20 thousand baht to drive and deliver the consignment. 7.2 kilogrammes of heroin was intercepted at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday, the drugs had been sent in several packages by post from Cambodia on route to Taiwan, the street value was estimated at some 21 million baht. Authorities rescued five people from an apartment in Bangkok yesterday, after they had been unlawfully detained and abused over a fictitious debt. Police arrested Haru WangSiri who had held his victims captive and forced them to work for 3 years to pay off a fictitious debt, both were found with injuries and signs of abuse. An arrest warrant has been issued for a 29 year old female performing arts activist, on charges under the lese majeste law and the Computer Crimes Act, The court also imposed a fine of 200,000 baht after she failed to show up for her court hearing yesterday. She is also due to appear in court on other charges in November but is believed to have left the country. A video of a man rollerboarding along Sukhumvit Rd Bangkok went viral and attracted attention of the police who traced him to a condominium near Lumpini, Canadian 37 year old Jordan McIver was fined on several minor charges. REGION Singapore: The fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex will go on display this month before it becomes the first such specimen to be offered at auction in Hong Kong in November. The price is expected to reach around 20 million U.S dollars. Fine and sunny over most of the country, Except in the south, Monsoon rains continue to sweep across the south from Chumphon all the way into Malaysia Chiang Mai: Sunny 31C Bangkok: Sunny 33C Pattaya and SE: Sunny 31C. Phuket: Torrential rain and Thunderstorms 29C. Hua Hin: Sunny partly cloudy, DRY 30C Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English, Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News, Phuket News, Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times. The Irrawaddy. Windy.com. Wunderground.com. Listen Live: Surf 102.5 Facebook: Surf 102.5 -- © Copyright SURF 102.5 FM 2022-10-18 - 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!