webfact

‘Very good for tourists’: Thailand aims for high season with U-turn on cannabis The once-banned drug is now on sale at market stalls, beach clubs and even hotel receptions. But the laws in this ‘pot paradise’ are blurry by Katie Glass Cannabis products selling at a tourist spot in Thailand, the first country in Asia to legalise the drug. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA Adistinctive sweet smell wafts through Fisherman’s Village night market on the Thai island of Koh Samui, drifting up between the sticky mango rice stalls and bucket cocktail vans. The Samui Grower cannabis stall is doing swift business tonight. A table is laid with glass jars, each displaying a different flowering green bud, with labels saying things like ‘‘Road Dawg’ hybrid THC25% 850TBH/gram”. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268658-‘very-good-for-tourists’-thailand-aims-for-high-season-with-u-turn-on-cannabis/

Cannabis products selling at a tourist spot in Thailand, the first country in Asia to legalise the drug. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA The once-banned drug is now on sale at market stalls, beach clubs and even hotel receptions. But the laws in this ‘pot paradise’ are blurry by Katie Glass Adistinctive sweet smell wafts through Fisherman’s Village night market on the Thai island of Koh Samui, drifting up between the sticky mango rice stalls and bucket cocktail vans. The Samui Grower cannabis stall is doing swift business tonight. A table is laid with glass jars, each displaying a different flowering green bud, with labels saying things like ‘‘Road Dawg’ hybrid THC25% 850TBH/gram”. Elsewhere on the island, at Chi beach club, tourists lie on couches puffing ready-rolled joints and munching pizzas topped with green cannabis leaves. On Instagram, the Green Shop Samui offers a marijuana menu of fantastically named buds: Truffle Cream, Banana Kush and Sour Diesel, alongside hemp cookies and cannabis herbal soap. Anyone familiar with Thailand’s notoriously hardline attitude towards recreational drug use might watch this and wonder if they’ve had too much to smoke. A country where narcotics offences have attracted the death sentence, and being caught with a joint at a full moon party has landed tourists in the infamous Bangkok Hilton, now appears to have done an about-face. In an apparent bid to attract tourists in the post-Covid slump, the Thai government decriminalised cannabis last month. Koh Samui’s streets are already dotted with dispensaries with names such as Mr Cannabis, and tourists tell of being offered marijuana openly at the reception of their hotel. Yet the laws around cannabis are far more blurred than this “pot paradise” suggests. Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/aug/11/thailand-aims-for-high-season-with-u-turn-on-cannabis-law -- © Copyright The Guardian 2022-08-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Video: Thai Airways man's pick-up bursts into flames on Bang Na - Trat - he escaped in the nick of time Daily News Thai Caption: Explosion precedes fire! Daily News reported on a fire in a pick-up on the Bang Na - Trat highway heading towards Suvarnabhumi airport last night. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268651-video-thai-airways-mans-pick-up-bursts-into-flames-on-bang-na-trat-he-escaped-in-the-nick-of-time/

Daily News Thai Caption: Explosion precedes fire! Daily News reported on a fire in a pick-up on the Bang Na - Trat highway heading towards Suvarnabhumi airport last night. Thai Airways staffer Wallop Sripinpao, 39, was driving to work in his Isuzu D-Max when he heard an explosion that he thought emanated from the battery under the hood. He immediately pulled over to the left and got out as the vehicle burst into flames. He called rescue services. The Bang Chalong fire brigade took 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze by which time the pick-up was completely destroyed. No one was hurt or injured in the incident. 77kaoded had a video of the fire being extinguished. Someone could be heard shouting: "Gas tank first! Gas tank first!" Traffic was held up as fire fighters and Bang Plee police attended the scene. Police said that it appeared a short circuit under the hood fueled by gasoline had caused the blaze but they were conducting a full investigation. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - 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

Lightning fast gold shop robber at Big C, Ratchaburi, gets 800,000 baht in necklaces Daily News Thai Caption: Less than a minute Ban Pong police in Ratchaburi, central Thailand, said that a robber at the Aurora gold shop in Big C took less than a minute to steal necklaces worth about 800,000 baht. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268648-lightning-fast-gold-shop-robber-at-big-c-ratchaburi-gets-800000-baht-in-necklaces/

Daily News Thai Caption: Less than a minute Ban Pong police in Ratchaburi, central Thailand, said that a robber at the Aurora gold shop in Big C took less than a minute to steal necklaces worth about 800,000 baht. Staffer Nitchanan, said that she noticed a man trying to access an area for staff only just after 6.40 pm. He was wearing a mask and cap to conceal his face and had a black t-shirt, cream jacket, jeans and black sneakers. He was about 160 cms tall. As she tried to stop him he went for something under his jacket that appeared to be the handle of a gun. She and another staffer withdrew in fear as he went to the display case and grabbed a tray of 2 baht weight gold necklaces stealing 13 of them, 26 baht weightm reported Daily News. He then ran off. Police said that it was all over in less than a minute. The robber had a glove on his left hand that he used to grab the tray and a phone in his right. He escaped on a Honda Wave 110, registration plate unknown, in the direction of Ban Pong district. He escaped withoput a trace despite the police radioing ahead. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - 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

Handicapped man in NE falls in weir and drowns trying to save his pet dog, say fishermen Thai Rath reported on a tragic drowning in NE Thailand when a handicapped man apparently fell in a weir and drowned trying to save his dog. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268647-handicapped-man-in-ne-falls-in-weir-and-drowns-trying-to-save-his-pet-dog-say-fishermen/

Thai Rath reported on a tragic drowning in NE Thailand when a handicapped man apparently fell in a weir and drowned trying to save his dog. Pol Capt Suwat Nitikraisit of the Chumphae police in Khon Kaen province went with rescue divers to the scene where they found the black female dog shivering cold and wet in the sidecar of a motorcycle. After divers lit some joss-sticks to appeal to the spirits of the area they took ten minutes before they found 45 year old Nirut, a local man who had drowned in the fast moving waters used for agricultural irrigation. Locals said that he was a handicapped man unable to walk properly and who also had a hearing disability. Fishermen at the scene had found the bike's engine running, the dog in the sidecar, and the victim's shoes and phone left by the water's edge. The victim's fishing tackle was also there. They surmised that the dog had leapt into the water on arrival and Nirut had tried to save it before falling in the water himself. However, the dog had managed to clamber out using its instincts. An autopsy has been called. It happened in Ban Don in Non Udom sub-district. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - 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

Rainwater that collected in canvas awning shocks lady driver as she goes home - "tons" of water falls on her Fiesta Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on yet another serious accident during construction of the expressway on Rama 2 road. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268646-rainwater-that-collected-in-canvas-awning-shocks-lady-driver-as-she-goes-home-tons-of-water-falls-on-her-fiesta/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on yet another serious accident during construction of the expressway on Rama 2 road. The latest incident followed a U-turn bridge collapse on the same road that killed two people. In this one a lady called Thichakorn Photalay, 33, was driving home to Mahachai in her Ford Fiesta after attending an English class at Central Rama 2 last night. She said that there was not much traffic and she was driving in the right hand lane of the central part of the road outbound. Suddenly there was a huge noise as what she imagined was tons of water fell on her car denting the roof and smashing the windshield. She managed to brake before calling her boyfriend and the Samae Dam police who arrived at the scene. The water had come down after it collected in a canvas awning above in construction of the expressway overheard by Pong-Pat Enterprise Co. Ltd. Nitiphan Wongraksa, 38, the lady's boyfriend said that it was his car. Looking above his head he told reporters that it wouldn't be the last time this happened, there was more water to come. Representatives from the company and the Samut Sakhon authorities were discussing full compensation at the police station. Nitiphan said he didn't have full insurance and needed the car daily. The incident happened outbound by the Laddarom Regent housing estate some time after 10pm last night. Samae Dam police are investigating in the aftermath but Thai Rath mentioned no immediate action against the company involved in the construction. ASEAN NOW notes that construction for dozens of kilometers leading out of and into Bangkok on Rama 2 has made driving in the area a nightmare for years. Even without accidents such as these. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Thai woman and Singaporean husband wanted for 844MB brandname fraud arrested in Malaysia Picture: Thai Rth Thai Rath reported that a Thai woman and her Singaporean husband wanted for a massive brandname goods fraud in the island nation had been arrested in Malaysia following help from the Thai police. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268644-thai-woman-and-singaporean-husband-wanted-for-844mb-brandname-fraud-arrested-in-malaysia/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that a Thai woman and her Singaporean husband wanted for a massive brandname goods fraud in the island nation had been arrested in Malaysia following help from the Thai police. Channel News Asia reported that Pi Jiapeng, 26, and Siriwipa Pansuk, 27, were now in the hands of the Singaporean police. The RTP had heard that the couple may have been staying in a hotel in Johor Bahru that is just across the causeway from Singapore. The RTP gave their counterparts in Singapore the tip. The Singaporean authorities contacted the Malaysian police who issued an arrest warrant that led to the couple's capture. The couple were wanted in Singapore for not delivering brandname products in the sum of 32 million Singaporean dollars that is about 844 million baht. They fled Singapore on July 4th hidden in a container truck. A man called Mohammed Alias, 40, is in custody related to that matter. Singapore police had Interpol issue a red notice in mid July. The couple are also being connected to the case of dealings by two companies called Tradenation and Tradeluxury. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - 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 - Friday August 12 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268642-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-friday-august-12-2022/

Listen to the news: Prime minister Prayut, his Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister will quit the government if the Constitutional Court rules his eight-year term is over. Interior Minister Anupong’s comments came while attending Gen Prawit's 77th birthday party. The Government plans to launch a series of measures to help alleviate the rising cost of fuel and plans to prepare for the fallout of the Ukraine war and other potential geopolitical conflicts. The panel discussed farming, promoting the use of organic fertilizers, encouraging energy conservation and the use of public transport, Former Sri Lankan president Gota-baya Raja-paksa arrived in Thailand late yesterday in his quest to seek a new home , however he is on a temporary visa here after fleeing Sri lanka and spending a few weeks in Singapore. The daughter of a man whose body was found in his car almost 12 hours after a crash in Chon Buri has filed a complaint against police and rescuers, saying she did not believe he died instantly at the crash site. She alleges officers acted negligently which caused the death of her father. Police raided premises in Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi where they seized tens of thousands of Fake Covid-19 test kits, masks and other items worth some 2 million baht. The goods displayed false brand labels and were being sold for less than the market price. At least two arrests were made. Police believe the items were supplied by a Chinese national. Nakhon Phanom was plunged into darkness last night as storm mulan dumped torrential rain across the province then moved west across northern Thailand. Region: India: New Delhi will enforce a mask mandate again after COVID-19 infections rose in the past two weeks , however, a similar order in April failed to improve compliance. Storm Mulan dumping torrential rain in the north Chiang Mai: Cloudy torrential rain, 27C Bangkok: Cloudy with thunderstorms this afternoon 31C Pattaya and SE: Cloudy with thundershowers later 30C Phuket and the South: A fine day, partly cloudy DRY 30C. Hua Hin: Bright but cloudy with showers 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 2022-08-12 - 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!

Traffic cop praised for taking Myanmar mum and sick boy to hospital on his bike Daily News Thai Caption: Praiseworthy actions Daily News published a feel good story on the eve of Thai Mother's Day today. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268637-traffic-cop-praised-for-taking-myanmar-mum-and-sick-boy-to-hospital-on-his-bike/

Daily News Thai Caption: Praiseworthy actions Daily News published a feel good story on the eve of Thai Mother's Day today. It involved a kind traffic policeman who took a Myanmar woman who works in Khao San Raod, Bangkok, to hospital with her sick son. The little chap had a raging fever. Chana Songkhram traffic cop Krissanachai Sricharoen had heard calls for an ambulance over the radio and rushed to the Khok Wua intersection to see if he could be of assistance, said station chief Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee. Picture: Daily News It was raining heavily and the rush hour and mum and son had been waiting in vain for a taxi to take them to hospital. After checking with mum to make sure that she was ok to ride with her son on a motorcycle the kind cop saved the day. Daily News said there was praise for the policeman's actions. Goodness knows what would have happened had he not stepped up to the plate to offer his assistance. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - 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

World Sports News - Friday 12 August by Chili Radio Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268633-world-sports-news-friday-12-august-by-chili-radio/

Listen to the news: Rugby League - Australia rugby league coach and former player Paul Green has died at the age of 49 after taking his own life. He guided North Queensland Cowboys to their first National Rugby League (NRL) premiership title in 2015. As a player, he made 162 appearances across five different clubs during a 10-year career, before retiring in 2004. He was the current head coach of Queensland in the State of Origin Series. Basketball - The NBA will honour late 11-time champion Bill Russell by retiring his jersey number six across the league. The Boston Celtics legend died at the age of 88 last month. Football - Manchester City have agreed a fee of 13m euros plus add-ons with Anderlecht for Spain Under-21s defender Sergio Gomez. Gomez could go back out on loan to City Football Group club Girona in Spain. He came through the Barcelona academy before joining Borussia Dortmund. Download the Chili Radio app : https://chiliradio.app for Chili Pop and Chili Classics. -- © Copyright Chili RADIO 2022-08-12 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!

Tourism and Sports Minister to propose opening hours extension for entertainment venues in popular tourist attractions By Goongnang Suksawat The Minister of Tourism and Sports is preparing to propose the opening hours extension of entertainment venues from 2:00 AM. to 4:00 AM. to be in line with tourist behavior. Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed on Thursday, August 11th, that the proposal will be introduced in the meeting of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for their approval next week. Phiphat added: “The extension is in line with the foreign tourists’ behavior, such as European and Middle Eastern nationals who regularly started dinner around 10:00 PM. and started drinking at midnight. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/11/tourism-and-sports-minister-to-propose-opening-hours-extension-for-entertainment-venues-in-popular-tourist-attractions/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-08-12 - 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!

Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport bus service updated By Online Reporter The bus service that operates between Hua Hin and Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268628-hua-hin-to-suvarnabhumi-airport-bus-service-updated/

By Online Reporter The bus service that operates between Hua Hin and Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. With immediate effect, a total of six services per day will now operate between the two locations. The first departure from Hua Hin begins at 7:30, while the last departure is at 18:00. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-to-suvarnabhumi-airport-bus-service-updated/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-12 - 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!

Taxi drivers in front of hotel in Patong warn other taxi drivers about “stealing” customers By Goongnang Suksawat Patong, Phuket – Taxi drivers in front of a hotel in Patong have warned other taxi drivers about “stealing” customers in their area. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268627-taxi-drivers-in-front-of-hotel-in-patong-warn-other-taxi-drivers-about-“stealing”-customers/

By Goongnang Suksawat Patong, Phuket – Taxi drivers in front of a hotel in Patong have warned other taxi drivers about “stealing” customers in their area. The issue has gone viral on Phuket’s social media today (August 11th). Taxi drivers who are stationed at a taxi stall in front of a hotel near Kalim Beach in Patong have posted papers on power poles nearby. The message concluded, “To other taxi drivers, please avoid picking up customers in this area as you do not respect us. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/11/taxi-drivers-in-front-of-hotel-in-patong-warn-other-taxi-drivers-about-stealing-customers/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-08-12 - 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!

Consumer confidence continues to pick up By Erich Parpart Thailand’s consumer confidence index increased for two months in a row, thanks to the reopening of the country of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268626-consumer-confidence-continues-to-pick-up/

By Erich Parpart Thailand’s consumer confidence index increased for two months in a row, thanks to the reopening of the country of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said on Thursday the consumer confidence index (CCI) increased from 41.6 in June to 42.4 in July. The index was 40.2 in May, compared to 40.7 in April, 42 in March, 43.3 in February and 44.8 in January. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42716/consumer-confidence-continues-to-pick-up/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-08-12 - 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!