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PHOTO: Prachachat Prevention of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Bill passed its final consideration The Thai parliament on Wednesday, August 24th, voted in favor to pass the Prevention of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Bill for promulgation as law in a further step. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269855-prevention-of-torture-and-enforced-disappearance-bill-passed-its-final-consideration/

UPDATE: Thai PM suspended from duty by Charter Court, Deputy Prawit becomes acting PM Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan / AFP After a unanimous vote to accept a petition from the opposition bloc in Parliament, seeking a Constitutional Court ruling on Prayut’s eight-year term in office and on a 5-4 majority vote, Prayut Chan-o-cha has been instructed to suspend his duties as the prime minister from today (Wednesday) until the court finally decides his fate. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269846-breaking-pm-prayut-suspended-from-duty/

Thai PM suspended from duty by Charter Court, Deputy Prawit becomes acting PM Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan / AFP After a unanimous vote to accept a petition from the opposition bloc in Parliament, seeking a Constitutional Court ruling on Prayut’s eight-year term in office and on a 5-4 majority vote, Prayut Chan-o-cha has been instructed to suspend his duties as the prime minister from today (Wednesday) until the court finally decides his fate. It is expected that the Constitutional Court proceedings will be completed within one month, or by the end of September, during which time the cabinet will continue to perform its duties. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan will serve as acting prime minister in the meantime. According to Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri, Gen Prayut respects the Court’s decision and is ceasing his prime ministerial role today. He will, however, continue his role as the country’s Defence Minister. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-suspended-from-duty-by-charter-court-deputy-prawit-becomes-acting-pm/ -- © 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!

Court Accepts Petition on PM's Tenure BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – The Constitutional Court takes up a petition to rule on when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha's constitutionally stipulated eight-year term is up. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269832-court-accepts-petition-on-pms-tenure/

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) – The Constitutional Court takes up a petition to rule on when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha's constitutionally stipulated eight-year term is up. The court orders Gen Prayut to be temporarily suspended from office until the judges rule on the issue. (TNA) Source: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1004029 -- © 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!

Prayut Stays Away From Govt House Amid Protests TNR Staff Tight security at Government House. Photo: INN News PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha did not come to work at the Government House this morning (August 24) opting to chair a meeting of the Policy Committee on Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Country for Targeted Industries via video conference, Sanook.com said. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269831-prayut-stays-away-from-govt-house-amid-protests/

Tight security at Government House. Photo: INN News TNR Staff PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha did not come to work at the Government House this morning (August 24) opting to chair a meeting of the Policy Committee on Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Country for Targeted Industries via video conference, Sanook.com said. He also assigned Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to preside over the Prime Minister Award: National Startup 2022 and the Prime Minister Award: Innovation for Crisis on his behalf this afternoon. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan also chaired the National Cyber Security Committee meeting via video conference. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/08/24/prayut-stays-away-from-govt-house-amid-protests/ -- © Copyright THAI NEWSROOM 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!

45-year-old illegal Thai migrant worker dies while awaiting deportation from South Korea South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday (Tuesday) that a Thai male, who had worked in South Korea for 8 years without a work permit, died of unknown causes last week after being detained at a centre in the south-eastern city of Busan. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269830-45-year-old-illegal-thai-migrant-worker-dies-while-awaiting-deportation-from-south-korea/

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday (Tuesday) that a Thai male, who had worked in South Korea for 8 years without a work permit, died of unknown causes last week after being detained at a centre in the south-eastern city of Busan. According to sources at the Busan Immigration Bureau, the man had been taken to hospital the day after arriving at the centre. CCTV footage shows him pounding his head against a wall. According to the authorities, the man had undergone psychiatric treatment. With a fever of 40oC, he lost consciousness after being brought back to the centre. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/45-year-old-illegal-thai-migrant-worker-dies-while-awaiting-deportation-from-south-korea/ -- © 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!

Drunk monk has all the excuses! Says he needed "lao khao" to "have one for the hermit" Daily News Thai Caption: Drank one for the "hermit" A plastered monk in NE Thailand didn't have some lao khao for the road - he had some for the hermit! Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269824-drunk-monk-has-all-the-excuses-says-he-needed-lao-khao-to-have-one-for-the-hermit/

Daily News Thai Caption: Drank one for the "hermit" A plastered monk in NE Thailand didn't have some lao khao for the road - he had some for the hermit! Locals, officials and the police were called to the temple of Wat Srithat in Muang district of Udon Thani, where they found a very drunk holy father. Phra Mongkhol Janthasen, 53, defrocked himself and emerged from his quarters wearing only a pair of black shorts. Earlier he had tried to buy "lao khao" (a Thai white spirit) from a shop telling the shopkeeper he needed it for a ceremony. The shopkeeper refused and reported him but later relatives of the errant monk bought the booze for him. When the defrocking party of kamnan, phu yai ban and others arrived they smelled drink and out came the now Mr Mongkhol in his shorts. Picture: Daily News He was made to say a few words in front of a Buddhist image then told how he had ordained three years ago and had never had a drop of booze until the last three days. He was tired, he explained, and the alcohol helped ease that feeling. He also said that he needed to drink to perform a ceremony related to a hermit. He had to drink on behalf of the hermit. The excuses continued when it was discovered that he had tested positive with a purple urine test for drugs. Oh, said the former senior monk, that'd be the drugs for my asthma. Daily News had a picture of the monk being taken away in the flatbed of a pick-up. -- © 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’s parliament has passed the 2023 budget bill After a five-day debate, the 3.185 trillion-baht budget bill has passed its final reading in the lower house, with 258 MPs voting in favour and 180 against. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269823-thailand’s-parliament-has-passed-the-2023-budget-bill/

After a five-day debate, the 3.185 trillion-baht budget bill has passed its final reading in the lower house, with 258 MPs voting in favour and 180 against. Next, the bill will go to the senate for approval within 20 days. The process of enacting the bill, which must be implemented in the next fiscal year, starting October 1st, is done by the Secretariat of the Cabinet. Traisuree Traisoranakul, a deputy government spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked the House of Representatives for their approval of the Bill. The budget will be spent efficiently to move the country forward and strengthen the economy after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also focus on the best interests of the nation and its people. Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-parliament-has-passed-the-2023-budget-bill/ -- © 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!

Stressed man said he felt safer at the police station than with his wife - grabs cop's gun and is shot dead Daily News Thai Caption: Judicial killing ends rampage An investigation is underway after a man who reported having an argument with his wife and feeling safer at a Nakhon Pathom police station was shot dead, reported Daily News. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269822-stressed-man-said-he-felt-safer-at-the-police-station-than-with-his-wife-grabs-cops-gun-and-is-shot-dead/

Daily News Thai Caption: Judicial killing ends rampage An investigation is underway after a man who reported having an argument with his wife and feeling safer at a Nakhon Pathom police station was shot dead, reported Daily News. He'd grabbed an officer's gun while he was changing in the car park, started firing indiscriminately and fellow officers pumped him full of bullets in a judicial shooting. He had eight bullet wounds. Deputy chief at the Nakhonchaisri station in Nakhon Pathom, central Thailand, Lt-Col Nawin Songlaor initially reported the shooting of a man in blue tracksuit bottoms and red top in the parking lot yesterday evening. A Sig Sauer P365 handgun was recovered from under a white pick-up. Eight shell casings were recovered and taken into evidence. The deceased was later named as Khempetch Khamla, 38, who had eight wounds. Pol Maj-Gen Chomchawin Purathananon, provincial police chief, said that officers at the station first saw the man in the middle of the day. He said that he had been arguing with his wife who had chased him out of their home so he went to the police station where he would feel safer. In the evening he still hadn't gone home and the police took pity on him and gave him 100 baht so he could get himself something to eat. He came back thereafter and asked if he could take a shower and sleep there the night. They allowed him to do that. However, while an officer was changing his clothes behind his private pick-up in the parking lot the man grabbed the officer's gun from his waist and made as if to shoot at him. Hearing the commotion other officers responded and ran out to get the man to put down the weapon. He failed to comply and started shooting indiscriminately putting holes in three police vehicles' bodywork and bursting a tire. Unable to calm the situation down and fearing injury or worse the officers shot him dead. Chomchawin said that during the day officers had found out the man's name and done a background check to make sure he was not a threat. Picture: Daily News He had no previous for drugs or crime and officers just assumed he was a stressed out guy who had been involved in a domestic dispute. The four guns used in the killing by police were taken into evidence as an investigation began. This will include investigating whether the officer who had his gun taken was negligent. The deceased was taken away for an autopsy to check especially for the presence of drugs and/or alcohol. -- © 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

Tim Newton Today - Aug 24: Thai PM's last day? Floods reach BKK, former Malaysian PM in jail South East Asian PMs in the news, in Thailand D-Day for the Thai prime minister Prayut Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1269817-tim-newton-today-aug-24 thai-pms-last-day-floods-reach-bkk-former-malaysian-pm-in-jail/

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/