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South East Asian PMs in the news, in Thailand D-Day for the Thai prime minister Prayut, whilst a former Malaysian PM wakes up this morning in jail. Flood waters are reaching Bangkok today, good news for one of the Tham Luang 'Wild Boar' boys, live prawns (shrimp) in Phuket ruin the holiday for three Singaporeans.

Thailand, Cambodia Jointly Upgrade Road No.67 to Boost Trade, Tourism BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – Thailand and Cambodia cooperate to upgrade the Road No.67 to boost trade, investment and tourism between the two countries. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269816-thailand-cambodia-jointly-upgrade-road-no67-to-boost-trade-tourism/

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – Thailand and Cambodia cooperate to upgrade the Road No.67 to boost trade, investment and tourism between the two countries. Mr. Perames Vudthitornetiraks, President of Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) said that the Thai Cabinet agreed on Aug 23, 2022 that the Thai government and the Cambodian counterpart cooperate to improve the National Road No.67 (NR67), linking Chong Sa-Ngam in Sisaket’s Phu Sing district of Thailand and Cambodia’s Anlong Veng in Oddar Meanchey, which can connect to Siem Reap, the major tourist destination in Cambodia. The project will increase the capacity of NR67 to serve more traffic and will help stimulate economy. It will also develop transport links between Cambodian major’s cities and facilitate transportation along the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) under the framework of the economic cooperation in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1003811 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-08-24 - 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!

Potholes big enough for fish! Fed up locals repair the road themselves after four deaths on "Sai Morana" Picture: Thai Rath Locals were out in force on a section of road in the Ban Muang area of Udon Thani, NE Thailand, where huge potholes have caused countless accidents. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269813-potholes-big-enough-for-fish-fed-up-locals-repair-the-road-themselves-after-four-deaths-on-sai-morana/

Picture: Thai Rath Locals were out in force on a section of road in the Ban Muang area of Udon Thani, NE Thailand, where huge potholes have caused countless accidents. Thai Rath had received complaints about the state of 14 kilometers of road between Ban Dung and Ban Nong Sawang that is used as a shortcut. Cars and bikes are equally inconvenienced on the road that the locals have dubbed "Sai Morana" - the stretch of death. Picture: Thai Rath This year alone four people have lost their lives. Some of the holes are so big the locals said there are fish swimming in them. Some men with tools did some pointing lest there be any doubt. Ban Muang mayor Suriyan Saneha said he had mobilized villagers and got a cement mixer to repair one particularly bad section themselves. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

Highways department issue further directives to contractors after spate of accidents on Rama 2 Sanook Thai Caption: Repeat Repeat Repeat Construction of expressways on Rama 2 road on the outskirts of the Thai capital Bangkok is in the news again after a spate of accidents. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269812-highways-department-issue-further-directives-to-contractors-after-spate-of-accidents-on-rama-2/

Sanook Thai Caption: Repeat Repeat Repeat Construction of expressways on Rama 2 road on the outskirts of the Thai capital Bangkok is in the news again after a spate of accidents. Sanook reported with a picture that had a caption that reminded the public of the ongoing repeated accidents. Now the Highways Department issued advisories and updates following the incidents. They told contractors to strictly follow measures for transporting materials in the construction area advising the use of braces and further netting. Checks by safety officers must be made before materials are moved. The page referred to two of the latest accidents - one on 11th August when tons of water that had collected in a canvas awning rained down on a car and another on the 16th when a loose metal strip caused damage to a vehicle. Regarding the first, repairs were made to the vehicle on August 15th and in the second compensation for loss of a vehicle used for work was paid and a rental replacement provided while repairs were made. Two people were also killed before these incidents when part of a U-turn bridge collapsed, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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: Pattaya: Annoyance caused by Arabs on bikes - police make arrests, seize bikes and go after Thai rental shops Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath updated on the story ASEAN NOW reported yesterday after a large group of middle eastern bikers were racing on Sukhumvit Road. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269810-pattaya-annoyance-caused-by-arabs-on-bikes-police-make-arrests-seize-bikes-and-go-after-thai-rental-shops/

Pattaya: Annoyance caused by Arabs on bikes - police make arrests, seize bikes and go after Thai rental shops Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath updated on the story ASEAN NOW reported yesterday after a large group of middle eastern bikers were racing on Sukhumvit Road. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269810-pattaya-annoyance-caused-by-arabs-on-bikes-police-make-arrests-seize-bikes-and-go-after-thai-rental-shops/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath updated on the story ASEAN NOW reported yesterday after a large group of middle eastern bikers were racing on Sukhumvit Road. Chonburi provincial police deputy and spokesman Pol Col Ekkaphop Inthawiwat said that the middle easterners were all tourists in Pattaya between June and August. They come every year. They rent bikes and drive around in large groups that create annoyance. There had been previous crackdowns. This time the Pattaya police set up a checkpoint and caught 16 of them for not having licences and not wearing helmets. A total of 22 vehicles were seized. Ekkaphop said that action was being taken against the Thai bike shops that rented the vehicles for not checking riders' credentials. Fines of 2,000 baht would be levied. He warned all Thai bike renters that they must check licences and other documents of people renting bikes and other vehicles or they will be fined. Regarding the annoyance whether it is caused by Thais or foreign tourists people should call 191 or 03 821 1300 to report incidents. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

Four men at drug rehab camp taken to hospital with apparent food poisoning - was it the mussels? Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that Trat rescue services were called to a drug rehab camp in Muang district after four men went down with what appeared to be food poisoning. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269808-four-men-at-drug-rehab-camp-taken-to-hospital-with-apparent-food-poisoning-was-it-the-mussels/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that Trat rescue services were called to a drug rehab camp in Muang district after four men went down with what appeared to be food poisoning. Probation department officer Khamron Leuangthanaphon was on hand as the men aged 20, 22, 29 and 32 were taken to Trat Hospital. The camp from August 15th to 26th is for drug users not addicts, said Khamron. Every day there was different food prepared by staff and this time 70 on rehab and 10 helpers had consumed pineapple curry with mussels. He doubted it was the mussels otherwise everyone would have got sick. Rescue services who responded at 9.30 last night said that another 3-4 people reported minor symptoms of food poisoning but were deemed not necessary for hospital treatment. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

Chinese couple arrested for posting heroin to Australia - condos/gold worth nearly 10MB seized Thai Rath reported on the arrest of a Chinese couple who police claim posted 4.19 kilos of heroin to Australia. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269807-chinese-couple-arrested-for-posting-heroin-to-australia-condosgold-worth-nearly-10mb-seized/

Thai Rath reported on the arrest of a Chinese couple who police claim posted 4.19 kilos of heroin to Australia. They seized condos in the Rachada and Sathon areas of Bangkok and Pattaya and other assets totalling nearly 10 million baht. The couple denied the charge saying they were sending for someone else. They were named as Jun Dai, 42, and Jia Lee Sia, 28, who were arrested on a warrant for distributing the Class 1 narcotic and conspiracy to send it abroad. They were arrested outside a chicken rice stall in Sampran, Nakhon Pathom. Earlier the authorities had intercepted a parcel with the drugs hidden in future board cavities disguised as the top and bottom of a container for bottle openers. They had sent the package from Big C in Pattaya using someone else's passport as ID. Authorities obtained a warrant and found out the couple were living in Nakhon Pathom, central Thailand. In total five condos were seized along with one car, cash and gold totalling 9,370,000 in value. The couple claimed they didn't know the package contained drugs and that they were sending it for someone else. They have been detained. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

“Thirteen Lives” – highly recommended for all except for the claustrophobic As one of over a thousand media covering the 12 boys and their coach trapped inside a northern Thailand cave four years ago, I didn’t expect “Thirteen Lives”, the new film by Ron Howard, to be very absorbing. Yet the director put the audience under a spell and at times, we were on the edge of our seats. As it turns out, “Thirteen” is the best movie on the Tham Luang incident so far, and one of the finest films I’ve seen in recent years. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269805-“thirteen-lives”-–-highly-recommended-for-all-except-for-the-claustrophobic/

As one of over a thousand media covering the 12 boys and their coach trapped inside a northern Thailand cave four years ago, I didn’t expect “Thirteen Lives”, the new film by Ron Howard, to be very absorbing. Yet the director put the audience under a spell and at times, we were on the edge of our seats. As it turns out, “Thirteen” is the best movie on the Tham Luang incident so far, and one of the finest films I’ve seen in recent years. Howard managed to mesmerize us throughout the 2.5-hour running time even though we all already knew the ending. He wanted to tell the story in a journalist style, and he did that perfectly – no more, no less. At one point, I felt claustrophobic and needed time away from the screen. I had to take a break to catch my breath before coming back to “rejoin” the rescue. The sense of claustrophobia was almost overwhelming at times. Kudos to Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, director of photography, who perfectly “crafted” the underwater cinematography which plays an essential part in taking us inside the cave. For me, those scenes are to “show” not to “tell” us how challenging and almost impossible the rescue mission was. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thirteen-lives-highly-recommended-for-all-except-for-the-claustrophobic/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-08-24 - 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!

Bangkok: Aim to get 100% of school kids to wear helmets - 50K prize - but what about helmet quality? Daily News Thai Caption: Wearing helmets 100% Bangkok's governor Chadchart Sittipunt is determined to get every school child at the BMA's 437 schools who travel to and from class by motorcycle to wear a helmet. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269804-bangkok-aim-to-get-100-of-school-kids-to-wear-helmets-50k-prize-but-what-about-helmet-quality/

Daily News Thai Caption: Wearing helmets 100% Bangkok's governor Chadchart Sittipunt is determined to get every school child at the BMA's 437 schools who travel to and from class by motorcycle to wear a helmet. Daily News reported yesterday that a campaign fronted by the Thai Insurance Association and several companies and organisations is providing 126,117 helmets to children in the capital. Teachers and school children joined with the authorities for the press shoot. Chadchart said that so far 255 schools had received 56,555 of the smart looking green helmets. The campaign includes work with teachers to educate children and parents in helmet use. Chadchart also said that tessakit and police would be on duty at every school. Dr Thaejing Siriphanich who fronts the anti-drink driving foundation in Thailand said that there will be a prize of 50,000 baht for the first school whose director can prove 100% compliance to the satisfaction of an inspector. ASEAN NOW notes that the Daily News article did not mention the quality of the helmets. In pictures published by the media there appeared to be two styles - one with a visor that covered most of the head and one just propped on the top of the child's head. Thai made helmets are certified but critics say that many are cheap and as effective as egg shells. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

Man dies after suspected elephant attack in Hua Hin By Online Reporter A man has died after being trampled to death by elephants near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Hua Hin. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269800-man-dies-after-suspected-elephant-attack-in-hua-hin/

By Online Reporter A man has died after being trampled to death by elephants near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Hua Hin. On Tuesday (Aug 23), park director Pichai Watcharawongpaiboon said the body of a 52 year old local man had been found on the roadside. Officers from Nong Plub Police Station said the man, who is understood to have been a local farmer, had suffered extensive injuries. Elephant footprints and damage to trees at the scene lead police to believe that the man had been trampled to death. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/man-dies-after-suspected-elephant-attack-in-hua-hin/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-24 - 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 passport offices in Bangkok area do a roaring trade on Saturday Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that with the ever declining pandemic more and more Thais are travelling be it for tourism, study, business or work abroad. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269793-thai-passport-offices-in-bangkok-area-do-a-roaring-trade-on-saturday/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that with the ever declining pandemic more and more Thais are travelling be it for tourism, study, business or work abroad. This means they need passports and a visit to a passport office. The media said that service at Thai passport offices has won awards for its speed and efficiency after orders from Foreign Affairs minister Don Pramudwinai to improve matters. Chatchai Wiriyawechkul is now in charge and presiding over one of the success stories of Thai bureaucracy. Thai passports have modern features and the service is fast and available nationwide with no need for people to travel to Bangkok. Picture: Thai Rath The number of passport offices has been expanded from 19 to 27. And two were even open on Saturday this past weekend in the Bangkok area. This might be expanded to the up-country provinces if there is sufficient demand. At the Pathumwan office on the fifth floor of MBK Center in downtown Bangkok a total of 1,718 passports were processed on Saturday. Picture: Thai Rath That was 1,339 at regular booths and 379 via electronic terminals. Normally between 700-900 are processed in a day. Meanwhile at the Bangyai office in Central Westgate, Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of the metro area 788 passports were processed on Saturday with 629 at booths and 159 at the self-service terminals. The media noted that documents for foreigners are also certified by the passport office. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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 and foreign embassies prepare for influx of foreign criminals in 22/23 High Season The Thai police are concerned that more tourists coming into the country in the October to February High Season will mean one thing for sure. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269790-thailand-and-foreign-embassies-prepare-for-influx-of-foreign-criminals-in-2223-high-season/

The Thai police are concerned that more tourists coming into the country in the October to February High Season will mean one thing for sure. More criminals coming into the country under the guise of tourism. They don't want foreign criminals, they want quality tourists, said a spokesman. With this in mind the Tourist Police in cooperation with 18 mostly European embassies and the Immigration Bureau have been working on measures to cope. They want to be able to swiftly deport undesirable elements back to where they came from. The no messing approach was announced yesterday by tourism police spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Aphichart Suribunya after orders from tourism police chief Pol Lt-Gen Sukhun Phrommayon. On board are 18 embassies namely Austria, Belgium, the UK, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland. (Siam Rath seemed to have omitted one in their report but said that 15 were European embassies). Apichart said that discussions would take place to determine what action would be taken if criminals slipped through the net and managed to get into the country. The cooperation between the Thai police and the embassies is also to promote quality and sustainable tourism and show that Thailand has a safe and sustainable environment for foreign tourists. This is in line with tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan and RTP Chief Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk's policies. Following meetings among 40 reps at tourism police HQ yesterday the reps were taken to see what arrangements are in place at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-24 - 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

NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Wednesday August 24 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269786-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-wednesday-august-24-2022/