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Drunk Russian tourist in Pattaya reportedly breaks through gogo’s glass door, attacks guard, after being unable to pay for drinks By Tanakorn Panyadee PHOTO: รักสยาม นิวส์ Pattaya — A drunk Russian man reportedly broke through a glass door of an entertainment venue on Pattaya’s Walking Street after being unable to pay for his drinks. The man also allegedly punched a pursuing guard’s face. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267486-drunk-russian-tourist-in-pattaya-reportedly-breaks-through-gogo’s-glass-door-attacks-guard-after-being-unable-to-pay-for-drinks/

PHOTO: รักสยาม นิวส์ By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — A drunk Russian man reportedly broke through a glass door of an entertainment venue on Pattaya’s Walking Street after being unable to pay for his drinks. The man also allegedly punched a pursuing guard’s face. Pattaya police rushed to a nightlife venue, Dolls, on Pattaya Walking Street at 2:30 AM on Friday, July 29th, after a report that an intoxicated tourist had run through a glass door and sustained several cuts after having a verbal altercation with a staff member. The Russian man was found intoxicated with injured wrists and an injured left arm. He told Pattaya municipal officials coming to his aid that his name was Viago, 25, without providing his last name immediately. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/07/29/drunk-russian-tourist-in-pattaya-reportedly-breaks-through-gogos-glass-door-attacks-guard-after-being-unable-to-pay-for-drinks/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-07-30 - 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! -

Coconut tree in the shape of "King of the Nagas" or a Giant Turtle - take your pick for lottery riches on Monday Sanook - part of the Thai media obsessed by strange occurrences signalling lottery wins - had not one but two stories today. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267481-coconut-tree-in-the-shape-of-king-of-the-nagas-or-a-giant-turtle-take-your-pick-for-lottery-riches-on-monday/

Picture: Sanook Sanook - part of the Thai media obsessed by strange occurrences signalling lottery wins - had not one but two stories today. In the first they went to see a woman called Darunee, 51, who has 15 rai of land given to her by her parents for mixed agricultural use in Ban Non Simma, Udon Thani, NE Thailand. She had planted a certain species of coconut tree - 80 in all - and one of them was growing in the shape of Phayanak - known in English as the King of the Nagas. The body and head of the legendary creature were clear in the branches and other parts of the plant and the locals had already won on the lottery twice after divining the numbers. In fact her own daughter had won 200,000 baht with the number 53. Darunee said she was a strong believer in this kind of thing what with living in a place regarded as sacred. So she was giving the spirits lots of drinks and lighting plenty of joss-sticks not wanting to miss out for a third time. She divined the number 849 though her favorites were 57 and 15. She also spoke of a dream she had of a snake entering her garden accompanied by a throng of dancers. This all added up to lottery riches for the next draw due on Monday, August 1st. If coconut trees looking like Nagas are not your thing then Sanook had an alternative. This was in Yang sub-district of Surin, also NE Thailand, where a huge turtle wandered into the home of Muang, 77, while his wife Samphao, 70, was out. Picture: Sanook It got trapped in a cement pond while eating morning glory. Locals came to put powder on it and divined the numbers 2 and 7. The turtle weighed 11 kilos and 7 "kheet" (700 grams). But more was to come. He then had a dream about a lottery seller only selling tickets with the numbers 15 and 18 so in the morning he got his younger relative to race off and buy those numbers. Then amazingly more locals arrived with more powder and divined 15, 18 and 27. Take your pick and good luck on Monday, ASEAN NOW wishes our readers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

Delivery man complains: His neck got entangled in hanging wires in Sa Kaeo 77kaoded Thai Caption: Man complains! Hanging wires all over the road nearly killed him 77kaoded continued their almost daily reporting about motorcyclists coming off their bikes after getting their necks entangled in the country's infamous hanging wires and cables. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267479-delivery-man-complains-his-neck-got-entangled-in-hanging-wires-in-sa-kaeo/

77kaoded Thai Caption: Man complains! Hanging wires all over the road nearly killed him 77kaoded continued their almost daily reporting about motorcyclists coming off their bikes after getting their necks entangled in the country's infamous hanging wires and cables. The latest incident happened to a delivery rider after his shift when he was going for a bite to eat. He was thrown off his bike. As he showed the marks of strangulation he said he thought he was dead when the incident occurred in Muang district of Sa Kaeo in eastern Thailand. This happened on a road leading to the Muang district police station. Picture: 77kaoded He went online to complain and was advised by posters to seek compensation with the relevant authorities. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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 has spent billions of baht on burying cables but only in major cities and tourist areas. The country remains a complete mess in many places, a problem highlighted by none other than Microsoft founder Bill Gates back in 2016. His "holiday snaps" prompted PM Prayuth Chan-ocha to get busy. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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: 77kaoded

Thais protecting themselves less against Covid - mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing all down concerns DoH INN reported in a banner headline that Thais were exhibiting behaviour that showed they were protecting themselves less against Covid. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267477-thais-protecting-themselves-less-against-covid-mask-wearing-social-distancing-hand-washing-all-down-concerns-doh/

INN reported in a banner headline that Thais were exhibiting behaviour that showed they were protecting themselves less against Covid. They said they were ignoring pleas to continue to wear masks, social distance and wash hands. The truth however is that the figures in a latest survey are not down a great deal - and Thais have already been told in a directive that they need not wear masks outdoors in open spaces, notes ASEAN NOW. Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, said that people still need to protect themselves again BA.4 and BA.5 strains by adopting what he called universal protection. Polls and surveys by the Department of Health that he heads suggested that comparing May to July mask wearing had dropped from 96.1% to 94.6%. Hand washing had dropped from 91.5% to 88.1%. Social distancing was down from 84.6% to 78.6%. When all three were considered the adherence had dropped from 82% to 74.1%. ASEAN NOW notes that as far as the Thai capital Bangkok goes, the number of Thais ditching their masks in public places remains extremely low. Perhaps that extra 1 in a hundred that the DoH figures suggest. Interestingly the INN article was in their "crimnal" news section. Many foreigners online think it's "criminal" (or idiotic) that so many people continue to wear masks in the street despite the relaxing of the rules. While many foreigners especially in tourism places have stopped wearing masks some still feel pressured into following suit given the fact that so many Thais continue with the practice. For many mask wearing was easy because they did it anyway pre-pandemic because of pollution. Are you wearing a mask in the street or just heeding the advice to keep one on inside, in crowded places or within certain businesses? -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

New online danger: Kid, 10, tricked by call center gang - dad loses 1.2 million baht Daily News Thai Caption: Son tricked into giving dad's data Daily News reported on what they called a new online danger in relation to the trouble caused in Thailand by criminals operating call centers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267476-new-online-danger-kid-10-tricked-by-call-center-gang-dad-loses-12-million-baht/

Daily News Thai Caption: Son tricked into giving dad's data Daily News reported on what they called a new online danger in relation to the trouble caused in Thailand by criminals operating call centers. A 49 year old man in Nakhon Sri Thammarat in southern Thailand - named only as "A" - went to the media after he lost 1,206,000 baht. It was transferred by his own son a staggering 65 times between July 7 and July 25th. Mr A explained that his son had been using his phone for online lessons and to play games, something many parents did in the pandemic. When the call center contacted the number his son was on his phone. The person on the other end of the line recognising an opportunity asked the young child what games they liked to play. They then said, do you like to win? and do you like to win points? Of course the child was intrigued and said 'yes' in their apparent innocence. Then he was instructed that a way to get points on games was to do the following, but make sure you don't tell your dad. The child took a picture of the father's Thai ID and sent it to the gang after contact on the Line app. Then the transfers started and continued until contact was blocked. Mr A was confused as he had signed up to get SMS notification on online banking activity but received none though he continued to get such notifications about interest payments. He said he never used online banking for his fertilizer business fearing trouble from the call centers. He has reported the matter and is awaiting the results of an investigation. ASEAN NOW has been reporting - along with posters on our site - that many people are getting multiple calls a week from the call center gangs. We advise anyone who gets automated calls asking for a number to be pressed - in the Thai language - to put the phone down. And given this latest news keep a close watch on children if they have been given permission to use your phone. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

Confusion reigns as EXAT announce new speed limits on expressways Picture: Daily News Daily News suggested that an announcement from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) via the Thai police would confuse motorists about speed limits on Thai roads. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267475-confusion-reigns-as-exat-announce-new-speed-limits-on-expressways/

Picture: Daily News Daily News suggested that an announcement from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) via the Thai police would confuse motorists about speed limits on Thai roads. Following a 240 day waiting period before an announcement in the Government Gazette on July 22nd new speed limits are now in effect on expressways. But these ministerial regulations are at odds with rules issued by Transport minister Saksayam Chidchop earlier last year. As shown in an infographic the new speed limits for cars on elevated expressways are 100 kmph for cars, and 80 kmph for trucks over 2.2 tons, passenger vehicles with more than 15 passengers and school buses. On ground level expressways the speed limit is 110 and 90 kmph respectively. Yet Saksayam had said that the speed limit on roads with two lanes and up and a central divider should be 120 kmph for cars. Expressways are just that or have more lanes. He also said that drivers in the right lane on such roads must not travel at less than 100 kmph. The media said that EXAT and the police had worked with the police on the new limits and signage advising motorists was now in place. The suggestion was that Saksayam had been sidelined in this matter. ASEAN NOW notes that 120 kmph was only introduced on certain roads as a trial, a trial that is expanding in its scope. We understand that it was never meant to include Bangkok expressways but nevertheless accept there has always been widespread confusion as to speed limits on many roads. Sometimes the speed limit from signage seems to go from 90 to 100 to 110 and back again for no apparent reason while electronic boards might say 80. The speed limit on most Thai roads outside cities is generally 80 or 90 kmph. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

Silly Season reigns supreme both in Thailand and abroad - Rooster contemplates another week off! OPINION | by Rooster The term Silly Season was coined as long ago as the 19th century to describe that time when journalists have little to do as western politicians take summer recesses. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267474-silly-season-reigns-supreme-both-in-thailand-and-abroad-rooster-contemplates-another-week-off/

OPINION | by Rooster The term Silly Season was coined as long ago as the 19th century to describe that time when journalists have little to do as western politicians take summer recesses. Fortunately in Thailand there is no clearly defined “low season” when it comes to politics, they just take time off on public holidays - there are plenty of those after all. In fact, it’s silly season all year round in Thailand. And the sillier the better. In the west journalists are famed for taking up the slack of political news with stories about the weather and celebrities. In Thailand that kind of reporting is mainstream so the public could be forgiven for thinking that it’s a year round thing. July has seen so many holidays I’m surprised when my kids actually go to school. A rare treat. Last week Rooster took a break from the column. It wasn’t so much as a “slow news day” but a slow news week capping a slow news month. The silly season was so silly that even Rooster was stumped for words. I felt like another break this week, but you’re stuck with me. This week I’m largely ignoring anything serious and going with the flow. After all, I liked Thailand in the first place not because it was serious but because it was silly. Unlike many foreigners, I still love the idiocy, rarely does it make me upset. I just laugh. One of my favorite stories of the week was a child in a Phetchabun kindergarten who was sent home with an A4 sheet stapled to their shirt with the words: “Don’t forget to dress up for Thai language day on Tuesday.” It was good to hear there is a Thai language day, perhaps introduced by the Thai PM who suggested a few years ago that it should be a world language. And the message was in Thai. But the father was furious at the silly teacher who had embarrassed him and his kid. However, a little bit of Rooster - a schoolteacher for 20 years - thought, did the parents read the contact book? A rhetorical question. Parents usually don’t bother but are quick to criticize when teachers get cross about communication between school and home being ignored. In this case the “khru” was transferred to an active post in another class while the director investigated. What’s to investigate? He stapled an A4 sheet on the kid’s clothes. Now that’s silly even if there was a good intention to make sure that the kid was not left out by parental forgetfulness. In politics Anutin was not taking a day off. Not one. Instead he continued to sing the praises of marijuana, though it felt more like money was his main concern than the “” of the people. He mentioned that health tourism was worth 2.2 trillion baht worldwide and that is the sort of number he wants a slice of! So, yes, there was to be absolutely no back-tracking on the legalization of weed. Hooray! To paraphrase Mrs Thatcher, this man was not for turning….just turning up ad nauseam. The Thai media - and ASEAN NOW also - love everything related to the head honcho at the MoPH. He sells those column inches with the kind of silliness that keeps journalists busy year round. Not that weed is silly. It’s deadly serious. Especially the rip-off prices in Thailand. As has been well documented, Rooster is a keen supporter of the change in the law and thinks Anutin has done a good job to push it through in this manner, not waiting just going full steam ahead. The House committee looking into the finer aspects of the law will report next month. The doctors and medical staff at Ramathibodi Hospital - 851 of them clearly pressured into signing for a weed U-turn - and Muslims in the south intent on imposing their medieval beliefs on sane people, should all be ignored. There are plenty of safeguards to stop recreational use among youth and protect people’s health. So doctors and Islam - pipe down….as it were. Thailand should be praised for doing something a tad radical for Asia. Controversial, yes, but a statement for freedom for a change. Best silly fake news inspired the forum curmudgeons to comment in proverbial droves. This was about penises shrinking after Covid. It reminded Rooster of Viz comic’s Sid the Sexist who was asked by a woman if he had an eight inch todger to satisfy her. “Nooo,” replied the Geordie wannabe womanizer. “I’m nae lopping six inches off mae tool for nae lass”. Sid famously never ever gets his way with a woman - it’s just bravado, something that the forum has in spades when it comes to comparing their length with Thais. Clearly they spend a lot of time in the locker room looking at men, or maybe it’s glances to left and right at the urinals in Central. I prefer the cubicles to avoid foreigners staring at my willy. There I can read the non-existent news on my phone in private. Being British I always love to sit down on the job especially if there is reading matter to hand. Anyway, the Anti Fake News center investigated and found out that Thai tools were not shrinking post Covid. In fact until the migrants from Laos, Burma and Cambodia return in numbers, Thais have just downed tools, whatever their size. Best silly season picture was of British Ambassador H.E. Mark Gooding, a man that grammatically challenged Thais call “He Mark”. He Mark was visiting Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin to do what all ambassadors with time on their hands do - before afternoon tennis rubbers - namely, bang on about human rights. Somsak said that the prison population had dipped about 90,000 so now there was no overcrowding. Although he didn’t say as much, this drop in the need for porridge was entirely a consequence of people stupidly banged up for weed, most of whom have now been released. My main point however is that neither man had apparently noticed, or preferred to remain schtum, when the backdrop to their meeting said “Minist y of Justice”. The three “Rs” have taken a battering in recent decades, now they appear to be going AWOL entirely. Somsak has gone on and on about how many drugs have been seized under his watch. Perhaps it would have been better if the sign had said “Ministry of Just Ice”. Silly in the extreme was a daft MP in Samut Prakan who flung himself to the feet of fatty Prawit Wongsuwon who had just got out of his van. It looked like the MP was going to lick Prawit’s shoes. Actually his absurd “graap” was because he and five others voted against the interior minister in the no-confidence debate. The act of apology and contrition to the DPM came after the group of MPs felt they had been ignored by Anupong Paojinda. And feared further sanction from Prawit as leader of the PPRP. Aides helped the MP get up and Prawit didn’t seem fazed - he just headed for the food tent imagining that the MP had been looking for a lost watch. This dinosaur is so past his sell-by date it’s not silly. He can barely walk on his own let alone put vocabulary in order in the usual manner known as sentences. He makes Prayut - our leader who art in khaki hollow be thy name - look sensible. Damning indeed. They all need to be retired then their replacements can have them arrested and prosecuted for what they’ve done - or not done - to our beloved Thailand in the last 8 years. Followed by a reconciliation committee, of course. In international news one of my favorite journalists - Kate McCann formerly of Sky and now of TalkTV - went that extra mile in the silly season (on hold because of Boris really) by making the news herself. Kate was hosting the latest TV debate showdown for PM between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Ms Truss was banging on about standing up to Putin in Ukraine when there was a loud crash. The look on Truss’s face was a picture to behold! It was our Kate fainting. The broadcast was promptly curtailed and a rematch mooted. I can only imagine that Kate - who was none the worse for wear - just fell asleep, those Tories really are that boring. Also in England they are holding the Women’s Football Euros to take up the EPL silly season slack. The Lionesses beat Sweden 4-0 in the semis. The BBC said this could lead to England’s 56 year trophy drought being over. No, Aunty. That will only occur if Harry Kane lifts the World Cup in catarrh. Even then, none other than Eric Cantona said that the human rights record of the arab nation and all the people who have died in stadium construction makes it not a real world cup in his eyes. Agreed. Catarrh bought the tourney after massive corruption at FIFA in which the Thai FA played their scurrilous part. I never write the name of the country with a Q. I always feel like clearing my throat instead. Nasty, nasty place - appropriately enough just a stone’s throw from Saudi, equally vile. Back in Thailand the king turned 70 on Thursday and everybody had a much needed break. It'd been an age since the last five day holiday two weeks ago. Rooster didn’t take any time off, instead bravely soldiering on translating stories from the Thai press who enjoyed lifting “hanging wire” and “food dramas” from TikTok and Facebook. In Samut Prakan two motorcyclists came off due to the former. Yawn. While one poster in the latter thought they’d got a decent dinner delivery until they saw that the “phat phet” just covered more rice underneath. It’s come to this. Silly indeed. Rooster -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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 Edited 19 hours ago by webfact

The Royal Coast Firms As a Casino Location Favourite By Editor To learn directly from members of the government committee set up to consider the future of casinos in Thailand, the Royal Coast Review attended a forum on Friday evening (July 29th), moderated by John Laroche, CEO of the Phoenix Group. Full stoty: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267468-the-royal-coast-firms-as-a-casino-location-favourite/

By Editor To learn directly from members of the government committee set up to consider the future of casinos in Thailand, the Royal Coast Review attended a forum on Friday evening (July 29th), moderated by John Laroche, CEO of the Phoenix Group. From a local perspective, a key revelation was that the Royal; Coast is one of five recommended as future casino and entertainment centre locations. The forum heard from Dr Saensak Siriphanich and Mr Udorn Olsson, both key members of the 60 member committee. Mr Olsson provided a local perspective as a high-profile Hua Hin business person and political identity. It was stated that a final report with recommendations to move forward to establish legal casinos in Thailand was delivered to government on 27th July. The forum was told that the committee has met over 30 times during the past six months and conducted extensive consultations with experts. Information was received from 49 countries to further understand best practice casino policy, regulation and management. The final report recommends changing the long-standing taboo on gambling in Thailand by establishing legal casinos in five locations, a recommendation agreed to by 90% of the multi-party committee members. The process will next involve government cabinet considerations expected to approve the committee’s recommendations, then for regulations to be framed. The speakers were optimistic that there can be licenses approved and investment agreements in place before the end of the year. The favoured model was described as similar to that of Singapore, a casino location which Mr Olsson says is often visited by Thai families as it provides suitable entertainment facilities and much more than just a gambling venue. This model is for venues to include a five star hotels, conference and exhibition spaces, theme parks with golf courses and green spaces as well as a casino. An investment of around US$ 300 million was described as a requirement for each project. The prospect of a significant boost to tourism numbers and government income was described with a determination not cause disruption to traditional Thai family life, but a way to enhance community and social development and a way to fund additional community services. Although naming Prachuap Khiri Khan Province (Hua Hin) but not Phetchaburi; the speakers stated that one preferred location is within 40 kilometres of the Hua Hin Airport, a zone often identified as Thailand’s Royal Coast. This means a site could be in either province. The specific regional location is yet to be determined; however the recommendation is that this should be away from a current city precinct (Hua Hin) and needing at least 100 Rai of suitable and available land. Additional to the Royal Coast location, the other four recommended locations are greater Bangkok, Krabi, Chiang Rai and Bueng Kan. Bueng Kan is Thailand’s 76th and newest province in the north east of the country. Dr Saensak was dismissive of previous reports describing different locations which seem to have been based on speculation, rather than agreed committee recommendations. However it must be noted that there remains a Thailand government cabinet agreement and commitment to accept the committee recommendations before there is certainty casinos will go ahead. There’s still a long way to go before casinos become significant tourism attractions and part of the region and the country’s landscape. Full story: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/07/the-royal-coast-firms-as-a-casino-location-favourite/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-07-30 - 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!

Devastating fire in downtown Chiang Rai - elderly woman dead, media speculates on candle theory Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on a devastating fire in a row of shophouses on the Chiang Rai to Mae Sai road near the Ban Den intersection in Muang district. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267467-devastating-fire-in-downtown-chiang-rai-elderly-woman-dead-media-speculates-on-candle-theory/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on a devastating fire in a row of shophouses on the Chiang Rai to Mae Sai road near the Ban Den intersection in Muang district. Flames reached 20 meters high as the fire spread with lightning speed. The fire started around 9 pm and is believed to have originated in a terrace property that is used as a rubber mattress factory. The fire spread to other properties. Picture: Thai Rath The same media further reported around 2.50 this morning that firemen from many districts had brought the blaze under control by 11.50 pm but there continued to be thick smoke billowing. In total six shop houses and a vehicle were damaged and there was one fatality, an elderly woman. Picture: Thai Rath The media said the row of properties was built by Num See Seng leasing and rented out. The source of the fire was a property with a rubber mattress factory out back and a showroom for that product and other furniture on the ground floor. They speculated without giving evidence that a lit candle had fallen from the second floor onto mattresses that fueled the fire and made it spread quickly, reported Thai Rath. Dead on the second floor and severely burned was Kapkaew, 65, the mother of the factory owner, who lived there. She apparently was unable to get out in time and died face down on her bed with half her body burned by the fire. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

"Smiling" son and "habitual drinker" shoots high profile businesswoman mother dead in Bangkok condo Picture: Daily News Thai Rath reported that at 7.30 pm yesterday evening Thong Lo police chief Pol Col Duangchote Suwanjarat received a report about the murder of a woman at a luxury condominium in their jurisdiction. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267466-smiling-son-and-habitual-drinker-shoots-high-profile-businesswoman-mother-dead-in-bangkok-condo/

Picture: Daily News Thai Rath reported that at 7.30 pm yesterday evening Thong Lo police chief Pol Col Duangchote Suwanjarat received a report about the murder of a woman at a luxury condominium in their jurisdiction. It occurred in room 179/275 on the ninth floor of Supalai Place condominium in Sukhumvit Road, Soi 39 in the downtown Watthana area. Duangchote told the press that the victim's name, age and surname had yet to be established. Initial observations suggested she had been shot twice in right side of the abdomen. She was a woman of Chinese extraction and a long time resident of Thailand who had obtained Thai nationality. The shooter was her own son Kevin, 30, a Chinese national. Chief Duangchote said that the victim had a plastics factory in Sam Khok, Pathum Thani and that her son had claimed he was under stress in the running of the business due to her alleged controlling nature. He was also drunk. Thai Rath said in their story this had emboldened him. At the scene the shooter had released his wife and children, a son aged 7 and a two year old daughter, to the custody of police before he surrendered. A Colt 9mm gun as well as four BB rifles were taken into evidence and met chief Pol Lt-Gen Samran Nuanma had been informed of developments. At Thong Lo police station reporters said that the shooter was showing no remorse and was even smiling. At 10.30 pm it was confirmed that the victim's name is Liw Sing (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect) the owner of Shuen Huei (Thailand) Co. Ltd and vice president of the Thai Trade and Industry Association. Shuen Huei is a plastics factory in Soi Wat Singh on the Pathum Thani to Sam Khok road, notes ASEAN NOW. Kevin is her only son and heir and reports suggested he is a habitual drinker though the media cautioned that how much this played a part in the murder was yet to be established. The media reported frequent arguments between the pair. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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

Korat murder: Man is foreigner, not Asian, woman can be identified by chip in breast implants Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath followed up with the latest developments after a naked, unidentified couple were found in a shallow grave in Chokchai district of Nakhon Ratchasima in NE Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267465-korat-murder-man-is-foreigner-not-asian-woman-can-be-identified-by-chip-in-breast-implants/

UPDATE: Korat murder: Man is foreigner, not Asian, woman can be identified by chip in breast implants Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath followed up with the latest developments after a naked, unidentified couple were found in a shallow grave in Chokchai district of Nakhon Ratchasima in NE Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267465-korat-murder-man-is-foreigner-not-asian-woman-can-be-identified-by-chip-in-breast-implants/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath followed up with the latest developments after a naked, unidentified couple were found in a shallow grave in Chokchai district of Nakhon Ratchasima in NE Thailand as ASEAN NOW reported yesterday. The media quoting unnamed sources close to the autopsy said that the male victim is a foreigner but not an Asian. The woman is thought to be Thai. Further details on this are expected by Monday. Yesterday Chokechai police chief Pol Col Bunprote Prasertsak held a meeting with investigators to round up the latest developments in the case. The victims, said Thai Rath, were encased in some kind of plaster or cement. They were both shot in the head. Police have been trying to get a lead through CCTV but initial examinations of the woman's body are proving to be the best chance yet of establishing who she, and her partner, were. The woman had a crown tattoo on her back and another tattoo of a string of flowers circling her right wrist. Pictures of these have been circulated by the police. Thai Rath did not publish any. Even more promising is the fact that the woman had had breast enhancement surgery and there is a serial number and microchip in the silicone. Online information suggests that some breast implants do indeed contain chips, notes ASEAN NOW. Police are contacting businesses that perform such surgery in the hope that this will identify the woman and subsequently her partner. Yesterday we reported that there were no reports of missing people in the area where the bodies were found in a 1.5 meter deep grave some 400 meters from a road near the village of Ban Por Phran. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30 - 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 Pharmacy Council urges government to control marijuana use other than for medical purposes, end free planting and growing By Nop Meechukhun Bangkok – Thailand’s Pharmacy Council yesterday, July 29th, has released a statement, urging the government to control the use of marijuana that are not for medical purposes and suspend free marijuana planting and growing. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1267459-thailand’s-pharmacy-council-urges-government-to-control-marijuana-use-other-than-for-medical-purposes-end-free-planting-and-growing/