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by Joseph O' Connor Electoral reform bill that was passed by parliament on Monday due to continued failure to make a quorum, is very likely to be reviewed by the Constitutional Court. If it is struck down, it could leave Thailand facing a constitutional crisis or holding the next General Election under the 2019 provisions and regulations. Parliament, on Monday, failed to reach a quorum on a bill governing the next election and the selection of House of Representative MPs. The bill was considered finalised by the President of the Assembly Chuan Leekpai under its originally drafted terms which were to be sent to the Prime Minister’s Office. It will then be sent to the Election Commission for review. The law, however, is almost certainly going to be challenged before the Constitutional Court before the end of this month, a situation that could either result in a political vacuum and crisis or a reversion to the former one ballot voting and electoral process used in the March 2019 General Election. The Thai parliament, on Monday, made a last-ditch effort to pass an amendment to section 24(1) of a new electoral bill for members of the House of Representatives which was passed in July and would have adjusted the formula for selecting MPs for party list seats in the next House of Representatives. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/08/16/election-law-finalised-in-parliament/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-08-16 - 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!

Carousels packed at Bangkok's main airport - rain blamed for "bored tourists" Daily News Thai Caption: Packed carousels at Suvarnabhumi Daily News picked up on a Facebook post yesterday evening from a site called "Travel 360 - Thiaw Rorp Thit" that reported crowds at the carousels at Suvarnabhumi airport. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268974-carousels-packed-at-bangkoks-main-airport-rain-blamed-for-bored-tourists/

Daily News Thai Caption: Packed carousels at Suvarnabhumi Daily News picked up on a Facebook post yesterday evening from a site called "Travel 360 - Thiaw Rorp Thit" that reported crowds at the carousels at Suvarnabhumi airport. The media said that this made the Thai and foreign tourists "seng" - bored - in their headline. So why the 'hundreds of people' waiting? The airport authorities reportedly said there were a lot of flights and rain in the airport area meant slow delivery of bags. A handful of posters on the site suggested things were normally fine. Wipar Nong said that the site shouldn't give tourists an opportunity to moan. Toon Koi said the wait wasn't long. Huak Khiattapat said "Amen....normally it's good" and many more tourists were returning to Thailand after the pandemic. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-16 - 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 - Tuesday August 16 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268958-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-tuesday-august-16-2022/

Listen to the news: Four people suspected of murdering an environmental activist known as Billy who disappeared in 2014 at keng krachang are set to be indicted. The decision came after additional evidence allegedly proves the activist was murdered. Billy had been working on a lawsuit accusing officials of destroying minorities' homes in the park, the case had been dropped in 2020, however criticism of that decision and determination from billy’s wife and humanitarian groups appear to have re started investigations. An army ranger was killed and seven police officers and two civilians injured in 2 bomb blasts in Naratiwat in the far south. The father of the 27-year-old ‘Mountain B’ “owner” 55-year-old Somyot Pan-prasong, has been charged with causing deaths and injuries due to negligence and operating the entertainment venue without permission. It’s believed he used his son’s name in the business operation. So far 19 lives have been lost since the fire. A fifth case of monkeypox has been reported, after a Thai woman who returned from Dubai was found to be sick. Electricity bills look set to rise between September and December by 72 satang to 4.72 baht per unit, the rise is due to increased costs of liquefied natural gas which Thailand imports to produce 60 percent of the country’s electricity. An official complaint has been filed against the governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan and five senior officials for allegedly ignoring the release of wastewater directly onto the beach. the Anti-Corruption Network’s group says in June it showed local officials where untreated wastewater from a hotel was flowing onto the beach near the town hall, but local authorities had failed to take any action. Heavy rain left parts of Bangkok under several centimeters of water yesterday, flooding was mainly in the outskirts of the the capital. Region: The Philippines is looking to buy heavy-lift Chinook helicopters from the United States, after scrapping a deal with Russia worth $227 million Dollars because of fears of U.S. sanctions linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Singapore yesterday wrapped up military exercises Super Garuda Shield with 13 neighboring countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United states. Japan marked the 77th anniversary of its surrender in the second World War in which some 2.3 million military personnel and 800,000 civilians lost their lives. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to never repeat the horrors of war. Chiang Mai: Cloudy with rain, heavy at times 29C Bangkok: Cloudy with thunderstorms 30C Pattaya and SE: Cloudy with thundershowers later 30C Phuket and the South: Partly cloudy, isolated showers 30C Hua Hin: Bright but cloudy with further rain likely this afternoon 31C 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 2022-08-16 - 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 hospitals report stellar Q2 profit as they benefit from outbreak of Omicron variant of Covid-19 By Pitchayapa Phiwpong Thailand’s hospital providers have seen their earnings for the 2nd quarter 2022 surge and was the only sectors after petrochemical that saw their profitability rise by such high numbers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268955-thai-hospitals-report-stellar-q2-profit-as-they-benefit-from-outbreak-of-omicron-variant-of-covid-19/

By Pitchayapa Phiwpong Thailand’s hospital providers have seen their earnings for the 2nd quarter 2022 surge and was the only sectors after petrochemical that saw their profitability rise by such high numbers. Hospital providers, which benefitted from the surge in Covid-19 cases and the hospitalization of patients either in hospitals or in the so called ‘hospitel’ (a hotel turned into hospital kind of arrangement), are also starting to see some return of ‘medical tourism’ as the country starts to open up its borders. “We expect our covered hospital stocks to report a 5.6 billion Baht aggregate profit in Q2 2022, down 30.5% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) but up 61.9% year-on-year (YoY),” Attaphol Tisayukata, analyst at TISCO Securities said in a note recently and he was absolutely correct in his assessment of a surge in profits as most hospitals that have come out to announce their results have all shown significant improvement. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42862/thai-hospitals-report-stellar-q2-profit-as-they-benefit-from-outbreak-of-omicron-variant-of-covid-19/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-08-16 - 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!

Can Anutin Charnvirakul become Thailand’s next prime minister? Analysis | by Ken Mathis Lohatepanont “A man’s worth,” the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “is no greater than his ambitions.” If this is true both for people and parties, then the Bhumjai Thai party’s value is high indeed. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268954-can-anutin-charnvirakul-become-thailand’s-next-prime-minister/

Analysis | by Ken Mathis Lohatepanont “A man’s worth,” the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “is no greater than his ambitions.” If this is true both for people and parties, then the Bhumjai Thai party’s value is high indeed. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjai Thai’s leader, recently made clear his grand ambitions for the party at a rally in Lopburi province. The party cannot refuse to lead the next government, Anutin declared, if they were to win 200 seats at the next general election due next year. At the very least, Anutin noted, the party was looking to double the number of ministries the party controls from three to six. As for himself? “Shower us with a lot of votes. Don’t be shy,” Anutin exhorted, “I’ll be the prime minister if I must.” A touch of reluctance, perhaps, but make no mistake: this is an ambitious party that knows its electoral worth. The question that remains is: is the party broadly correct in its aims, or is it overestimating its own appeal to voters? Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42860/analysis-can-anutin-charnvirakul-become-thailands-next-prime-minister/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-08-16 - 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!

World Sports News - Tuesday 16 August by Chili Radio Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268951-world-sports-news-tuesday-16-august-by-chili-radio/

Listen to the news: Football - Luis Diaz rescued a point for Liverpool against Crystal Palace last night after new summer signing Darwin Nunez was sent off in his first English Premier League game at Anfield. Palace had gone ahead after Wilfried Zaha scored in the 32nd minute. Striker Nunez was deservedly shown a red card when he reacted to a shove from Joachim Andersen with a headbutt that floored the Palace defender. Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte have each been charged by the English Football Association following their clash on Sunday after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham. The pair were both sent off after an angry confrontation following the full-time whistle.It is alleged that the behaviour of both managers was improper. In Serie A in Italy Juventus beat Sassuolo 3-0 and Napoli won 5-2 at Hellas Verona. In Spain's La Liga Atletico Madrid got off to a winning start by winning at Getafe 3-0. Real Betis beat Elche by the same score, Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca drew 0-0. And Finally, India's football association has been suspended by Fifa because of "undue influence from third parties". The suspension means the women's Under-17's World Cup, set to begin in the country on 11 October, will not take place as planned. India's highest court had disbanded the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the sport. Fifa's member federations must be free from legal and political interference. Download the Chili Radio app : https://chiliradio.app for Chili Pop and Chili Classics. -- © Copyright Chili RADIO 2022-08-16 Chili Radio: https://chiliradiothailand.com Listen Live: https://chiliradio.asia - 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!

Prachuap Khiri Khan Wastewater Alleged Inaction Results In Police Complaints by Editor The Nation Thailand has reported that a police complaint has been filed against Prachuap Khiri Khan governor and five senior officials for allegedly turning a blind eye to the release of wastewater on the beach. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268947-prachuap-khiri-khan-wastewater-alleged-inaction- results-in-police-complaints/

by Editor The Nation Thailand has reported that a police complaint has been filed against Prachuap Khiri Khan governor and five senior officials for allegedly turning a blind eye to the release of wastewater on the beach. The report states that representatives of the Anti-Corruption Network’s local chapter filed a complaint at the Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan Police Station in which they accused the six officials of dereliction of duty under Article 157 of the Penal Code. Apart from the provincial governor, the others accused are Prachuap Khiri Khan mayor, chief of the Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment, chief of the Marine Transport Office 3, director of the Wastewater Management Authority’s local office and director of the neighbour province Phetchaburi’s Marine and Coastal Resources Administration Office 3. Chaisit Plangsrisakul, a member of the Anti-Corruption Network’s working group, is reported as saying untreated wastewater was being released onto the beach near the town hall. He said the group had taken some senior officials to the area in June, where they learned that the wastewater was coming from a hotel nearby. However, Chaisit said, nothing has been done since. “The continuous release of wastewater has had a severe impact on the ecosystem of the coastal area, which is an important tourist landmark. But the relevant state agencies have paid no attention,” he said. Vendors near the beach filed similar complaints in May, saying that the smelly dark water was being released from a wastewater pipe near the breakwater. They said the bad smell was driving away tourists and affecting their business. A recent test conducted by the Regional Environment Office 8 showed that the wastewater had not been treated and violated safety standards. Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/08/prachuap-khiri-khan-wastewater-alleged-inaction-results-in-police-complaints/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-08-16 - 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!

Last-Ditch Bid To Amend Election Law Scuttled Over Lack Of Quorum By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE LAST-DITCH EFFORT by lawmakers to amend the constitution’s organic law on the election for MPs finally came to an end due to lack of a quorum yesterday (August 15), thus forcing the use of the original version proposed by the government. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268946-last-ditch-bid-to-amend-election-law-scuttled-over-lack-of-quorum/

By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE LAST-DITCH EFFORT by lawmakers to amend the constitution’s organic law on the election for MPs finally came to an end due to lack of a quorum yesterday (August 15), thus forcing the use of the original version proposed by the government. The MPs and senators attending today’s joint House/Senate meeting eventually could not make a quorum, thus forcing Parliament President Chuan Leekpai to call it a day with the draft originally proposed by the government being automatically provided for use in the next general election. Only 353 MPs and senators reported themselves in the parliament chamber, obviously failing to make a quorum which under the parliamentary rules needs more than half the total of lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and Senate combined, currently accounting for 364. Yesterday was the last day for the legislation which was given a 180-day time to have otherwise sailed through its third or final reading at parliament. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/08/15/last-ditch-bid-to-amend-election-law-scuttled-over-lack-of-quorum/

Malaysian ambassador discusses medical cannabis with Thailand’s health minister Anutin by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - Thai authorities are now discussing the matter of medical cannabis with their Malaysian counterparts. The latter have become engaged in legal efforts to enable the medical use of cannabis. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268945-malaysian-ambassador-discusses-medical-cannabis-with-thailand’s-health-minister-anutin/

by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - Thai authorities are now discussing the matter of medical cannabis with their Malaysian counterparts. The latter have become engaged in legal efforts to enable the medical use of cannabis. Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul is now looking to welcome his Malaysian counterpart to Thailand for a discussion on the matter. Mr. Anutin has engaged H.E. Dato Jojie Samuel, the Malaysian ambassador to Thailand, on the matter of Thailand’s medical cannabis policy. The two exchanged their thoughts on the pros and cons of using cannabis and hemp in medicine and how to address public concerns about said use. According to Mr. Anutin, Malaysia’s health ministry is working to enable the use of cannabis and hemp in medicine. If Malaysia announces the use of cannabis in medicine, it will become the second nation in Asia to remove cannabis from the ‘narcotic’ classification. The health minister said the use of cannabis in Thailand is regulated by laws that prevent misuse. He added that everybody needs to follow these laws so that order may be created in society. He also addressed the Bangkok governor’s mention of cannabis scent in public spaces during his live streaming. Mr. Anutin said he welcomed the governor’s report and the health ministry will work with the competent agency to inspect these cases. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220816015034461 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-08-16 - 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!

Long Covid less prevalent in Omicron wave: Dr. Yong by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - A senior doctor from Chulalongkorn University has asked the general public not to panic over long Covid symptoms, saying the condition is less prevalent in the Omicron wave. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268944-long-covid-less-prevalent-in-omicron-wave-dr-yong/

by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - A senior doctor from Chulalongkorn University has asked the general public not to panic over long Covid symptoms, saying the condition is less prevalent in the Omicron wave. Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Center of Excellence In Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said post-recovery symptoms can be found in COVID-19, as well as other diseases. Common long Covid symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, and breathing difficulty; which could be accompanied by chest pain, headaches, diarrhea, and loss of taste and smell. Mental conditions, which are more common than physical ones according to Dr. Yong, may include depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. These long Covid symptoms can be found more frequently in older people, with a slightly higher proportion among women. Only a very few cases have been reported among children. Dr. Yong said long Covid symptoms are related to the patient’s disease severity while infected with COVID-19, the conditions have become less prevalent as the Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain. He said patients with long Covid would gradually recover with time. At the same time, vaccines remain effective in reducing disease severity, and will also help reduce the chances and severity of long Covid as well. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220816015607464 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-08-16 - 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!

Lucky old you in Thailand with a young wife OPINION File photo Many of us ex-pats have been travelling nomads for some time, so wherever we settle is our home from home. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268943-lucky-old-you-in-thailand-with-a-young-wife/

File photo OPINION Many of us ex-pats have been travelling nomads for some time, so wherever we settle is our home from home. Often people would say to me Lucky You…. living in the land of smiles. As is well known, Thailand attracts many retirees from Europe and Australia, and it is not uncommon to see a doddery old expat drinking with a beautiful 25-year-old Thai girl. I think this joke sums it up very well. Bob, an extremely wealthy 70-year-old widower, shows up at the Country Club with a 25-year-old knockout on his arm. His golfing buddies can’t believe it. When she sashays off to the powder room, the boys rush over to get the lowdown. “Where did you find the girlfriend?” “Brittany’s not my girlfriend. She’s, my wife. “ His friends are flabbergasted! “Then how did you persuade her to marry you? ” Simple,” Bob confesses. “Lied about my age.” What, you told her you were only 50?” “Hell, no! I told her I was 95.” File photo Thai women want to marry a Farang I must admit it took me a while to understand the structure of Thai family life. Most of the population are poor farmers living in the north of Thailand. Families are very close, often with everyone working, eating, and even sharing the same bedroom. Unfortunately, girls go out with the young men from their village, and at an early age often get pregnant. In most cases the men are more interested in drinking, taking drugs or gambling, so there are hundreds of young single mums left at home. With no support from the father of the child, often their mother or even grandmother will look after the baby, while the girl travels south to earn money to send back home. What they can earn in the north is a fraction of what they can earn in the south. With little education, some end up working in factories, some become caddies at golf clubs, but many see the bright lights and go to work in bars. When I first arrived in Bangkok, I did find it strange that an attractive girl was walking down the road holding hands with an older ex-pat. Holding hands by the way is saying to other girls, he is mine, stay away! Many guys retire with a reasonable amount of life savings, so this attention from young females is unusual and sometimes flattering. They start to get into a routine of sitting in bars drinking beer all day and of course meeting loads of friendly young females. Many end up buying or building homes up north, and even moving to live with their Thai wives and the Thai family. Sometimes it works, but more often you hear about Bill from Sculthorpe who has lost all his life savings, when the wife leaves him, and the family keep the house he paid for and built. Still, many of my friends have met and live in Bangkok or Pattaya with their Thai girlfriends, have started a family, and are very happy. To an outsider, it must look very strange, but that is the norm in Thailand, and what guy anywhere does not like a pretty girl? You would certainly get a few envious stares when you go back home on holiday and walk down your local high street with your 25-year-old Thai wife in tow. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-16 - 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

to continue: Thailand Live Tuesday 16 August 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1268942-thailand-live-tuesday-16-august-2022/

Thai woman arriving from Dubai confirmed as Thailand’s 5th monkeypox case The Ministry of Public Health confirmed Thailand’s fifth monkeypox case today (Monday), in a Thai woman who has recently returned to the country from Dubai. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268911-thai-woman-arriving-from-dubai-confirmed-as-thailand’s-5th-monkeypox-case/

Pattaya Provincial Court issues arrest warrant for father of ‘Mountain B’ nightclub “owner” The father of the 27-year-old ‘Mountain B’ “owner” was wanted by the Pattaya Provincial Court after the court issued an arrest warrant on Monday, August 15th, as they believe that he was the actual bar owner. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268914-pattaya-provincial-court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-father-of-‘mountain-b’-nightclub-“owner”/

Swedish man allegedly stabs one Thai man over reported domestic dispute with his boyfriend A 60-year-old Swedish expat is on the run according to Pattaya Police after injuring one Thai man and stabbing his own boyfriend several times with a knife following a domestic dispute. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268937-swedish-man-allegedly-stabs-one-thai-man-over-reported-domestic-dispute-with-his-boyfriend/