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Amazing Thailand: Laotian "widow" leaves Thai husband after sexless wedding night - dowry and cash stuffed envelopes disappear Picture: 77kaoded Reporters from 77kaoded went to Loei province in the north east of Thailand where they heard a tale of woe of a just married Thai man and his sick mother. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260531-amazing-thailand-laotian-widow-leaves-thai-husband-after-sexless-wedding-night-dowry-and-cash-stuffed-envelopes-disappear/

Picture: 77kaoded Reporters from 77kaoded went to Loei province in the north east of Thailand where they heard a tale of woe of a just married Thai man and his sick mother. Sutthichai Khaolat, 29 - sporting a t-shirt emblazoned with "Put Your Ass on Some Class" - in Tha Li district, explained that he had married See Utthum, 23, a divorcee with a 5 year old son. (The media called her a widow). The small wedding at home took place last Wednesday. However, next day See and her mum Nian plus the little boy all disappeared with a 25,009 baht dowry and all the cash envelopes that had been given at the wedding. Now he can't contact them and has gone to the police. Sutthichai explained that he is a farmer growing corn, cassava and is involved in rubber production and left school after primary education. Being the only son his mother wanted him to marry but he had no one in mind. However, ten days ago he met the woman who was to become his wife. She was the daughter of a woman called Nian who had married and been living with a neighbor in their village for two years. Picture: 77kaoded Both Sutthichai and See liked each other immediately and the elders declared this was perfect match and the wedding was hurriedly arranged for next day. She had asked for the 25,009 baht dowry as well as one baht weight of gold (worth about 31,000 baht). On the wedding night in the marriage bed his new wife had her son sleep between them. When the boy dropped off to sleep Sutthichai, not unreasonably, asked to consummate the marriage. She turned him down saying that in the morning she needed to go to sort out a school for her son. She asked him to wait to have sex. In the morning See and her mum and son went to town to transfer some money to relatives and get some nappies. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe When they came back they said they needed to go to Nakhon Phanom (also NE Thailand) on some business or other and would be back in two or three days. On the 20th he tried to call her but there was no answer. Then the phone was turned off. He decided to wait until yesterday before going to the police. Hak, his poor and sick mother, told the press that See had pestered her to allow her son to marry her. She agreed to the dowry - her life savings - and said that the gold would have to wait until they saved more from the rubber business. She said she forked out 10,000 baht on wedding day food and See just paid 1,000 baht for some meat. In total See has made off with 36,000 baht. Nian has also removed all the cash and valuables from the house she shared with the neighbor. The penny now dropped that they had all been conned. The police were contacted yesterday but advised the family to wait for up to a week before filing a formal complaint. Hak said about the Laotian pair: "It's a sin - watch out for them". -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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 ranks high in Airbnb’s latest survey By TTR WEEKLY BANGKOK, 24 May 2022: Encouraged by the ongoing India-Thailand air travel bubble and the easing of entry rules, more Indians are heading for Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260530-thailand-ranks-high-in-airbnb’s-latest-survey/

By TTR WEEKLY BANGKOK, 24 May 2022: Encouraged by the ongoing India-Thailand air travel bubble and the easing of entry rules, more Indians are heading for Thailand. The latest YouGov research commissioned by Airbnb reveals that more than 70% of Indians polled said they were excited about being able to travel internationally, and almost 50% are considering travelling to Asia Pacific destinations. Thailand is one of the most searched destinations. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Indians are ready to travel internationally again, with 75% of those surveyed claiming they would book a trip in the foreseeable future. More than a third are planning to do this within the next six months. Almost three-quarters of working Indians say they’d consider combining work and travel, underscoring the fundamental changes in how people are living and working since the pandemic. Full story: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2022/05/thailand-ranks-high-in-airbnbs-latest-survey/ -- © Copyright TTR Weekly 2022-05-24 - 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.

Joint Thai - US naval exercises to enhance maritime cooperation Picture: INN INN reported on joint military exercises being carried out in the gulf of Thailand this week between the Thai and US navies. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260521-joint-thai-us-naval-exercises-to-enhance-maritime-cooperation/

Picture: INN INN reported on joint military exercises being carried out in the gulf of Thailand this week between the Thai and US navies. It's called Carat 2022 and runs until Friday and is centered around Sattahip and Koh Samui. Both land based and naval exercises will be carried out featuring P-8A Poseidon aircraft and ships called Naresuan, Bang Pakong and Kraburi of the Thai navy. Divers will also take part in training. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: INN Yesterday Admiral Phaisan Meesri of the Thai navy and Commander Brian Bangay (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect) of the USS Jackson met at the navy base in Sattahip to discuss the exercises. The exercises have been run since 1995, this being the 28th year. Commander Bangay gave the opening address in front of a large sign saying "openning", notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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 Committee Formed to Address Household Debt by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has set up a committee to address the issue of household debt. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260519-new-committee-formed-to-address-household-debt/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has set up a committee to address the issue of household debt. FPO Director-General Pornchai Thiraveja said the committee is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow. The director-general noted that most debts stem from student loans; loans from teacher cooperatives; personal loans and credit cards; auto and motorbike loans; and informal debts as well as other general debts. Related governmental units have already launched several programs to mitigate the problem, with a focus on helping debtors generate more income. These campaigns include loans that can be used to start businesses or invest in agricultural innovation to help reduce costs and increase yields. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pornchai said the Ministry of Finance is now working to connect the State Welfare database with related agencies such as the Ministries of Labor, Interior, and Education, and the Bank of Thailand. The move is expected to enable units to collaborate more effectively. The government is also promoting the importance of savings. The Ministry of Finance previously established the National Savings Fund and proposed to the Cabinet a bill for a national retirement fund to provide capital to those in need. To address the issue of chronic household debt, the administration will educate people of all ages and professions on financial literacy and monetary management. The government will also carefully review its policy to better prevent citizens from falling into unnecessary debt. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-24 - 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.

Two border crossings open in Ubon - but few people bothering to visit Thailand Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath went to the border crossing of Chong Mek in Sirinthorn district of Ubon Ratchathani in north eastern Thailand yesterday where provincial governor Pongrat Phiromrat and his entourage were inspecting operations. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260515-two-border-crossings-open-in-ubon-but-few-people-bothering-to-visit-thailand/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath went to the border crossing of Chong Mek in Sirinthorn district of Ubon Ratchathani in north eastern Thailand yesterday where provincial governor Pongrat Phiromrat and his entourage were inspecting operations. It was the first time the crossing has been opened in two years after it was shut because of the pandemic. Visitors to Thailand need to show two vaccinations and a negative RT-PCR test result. There were lots of traders ready to sell their wares - but very few people crossing. It was expected there would be more in the coming days. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Siam Rath But it was better than the crossing at Ban Pak Saeng in Phalan sub-district. There the border was also opened by the Thais but no one was crossing at all because the Laotian authorities were not ready. It was expected to open soon, said the media. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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

Sister stabs her brother to death in south after he forbids her smoking - she was peeling garlic at the time Daily News Thai Caption: No smoking! Daily News reported on a domestic incident in downtown Hat Yai, Songkhla, southern Thailand, yesterday in which a sister stabbed her elder brother. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260514-sister-stabs-her-brother-to-death-in-south-after-he-forbids-her-smoking-she-was-peeling-garlic-at-the-time/

Daily News Thai Caption: No smoking! Daily News reported on a domestic incident in downtown Hat Yai, Songkhla, southern Thailand, yesterday in which a sister stabbed her elder brother. When the Hat Yai police arrived at the zinc sheet shack on Sakhon Monkhon Road they found bloodstains. Relatives had alread taken Bunrit, 41, to hospital where he died from a stab wound to the left side of the ribs. His 39 year old sister was under a tamarind tree out front of the shack still peeling garlic with what turned out to be the murder weapon - a fruit paring knife. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News She was unaware that she had killed her brother. She surrendered to police custody. She said that her brother had no job but made some money selling second hand things. She described him as a smoker and a drinker of spirits and beer who was facing a drugs charge. He had come home drunk, she said, and shouted at her for smoking while she peeled garlic, a job she did there to make money. He came up behind her, grabbed her hair and started assaulting her multiple times. She said she swiveled round to protect herself and the knife she was using stuck into him. Then she was told that she had killed her brother. She was taken away to the police station for further questioning. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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

"Duck Face" arrested for savage kicking that nearly killed homeless man - all over 200 baht debt Daily News Thai Caption: Reconstruction after sleeping man is kicked A Thai man from Rayong who savagely kicked a homeless man outside a gold shop in Muang district nearly killing him has been arrested. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260513-duck-face-arrested-for-savage-kicking-that-nearly-killed-homeless-man-all-over-200-baht-debt/

Daily News Thai Caption: Reconstruction after sleeping man is kicked A Thai man from Rayong who savagely kicked a homeless man outside a gold shop in Muang district nearly killing him has been arrested. Daily News referred to Kiangsak Klomkaew as "Ai Pet Na Lai" - nasty old duck face. The attack happened outside the To Jip Nguan (transliteration may be incorrect) gold shop in Muang district on Sukhumvit Road on May 12th. He was arrested by Muang police after he went to a nearby motorcycle shop to get an oil change. His bike - used in the commission of the crime - was taken into evidence. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News The police took him for a reconstruction of the attack. He said that the homeless man had borrowed 200 baht from him and not repaid it. He said he hadn't stolen anything from him except a packet of cigarettes. Displaying no remorse members of the public cursed him at the reconstruction. He has been charged with assault and theft using a conveyance and detained. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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

Residential market remains fragile while housing prices to increase slightly Thailand’s residential market is still facing several challenges that will prevent it from making a full recovery in the short term. Research indicates that such unfavorable factors as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have prompted home buyers to delay their purchases. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260511-residential-market-remains-fragile-while-housing-prices-to-increase-slightly/

Thailand’s residential market is still facing several challenges that will prevent it from making a full recovery in the short term. Research indicates that such unfavorable factors as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have prompted home buyers to delay their purchases. Speaking at a recent virtual press conference on the property outlook, Kamolpat Swaengkit, Country Manager Thailand of DDproperty.com said that the study suggests the housing market will recover slightly in the second half this year, albeit slowly as home buyers have been reluctant to purchase homes because of the economic downturn and inflation since the beginning of 2022. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “In addition, consumers are concerned over economic instability with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as well as the rising prices of fuel and construction materials. In short, buyers are reluctant to buy,” Kamolpat added. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s consumer confidence index fell for four consecutive months to an 8-month low in April amid disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the impact of the Ukraine war. -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-24 - 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.

Getting Creative with Face Masks Since the start of the COVID-virus outbreak, face masks have become part and parcel of our daily lives. Medical and health experts insist that the simple protocol of wearing a face mask reduces the risk of contracting the disease as well as passing it on to others. And in Thailand, unlike in many other parts of the world, no one had any problem donning a protective face covering from day one. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260508-getting-creative-with-face-masks/

Since the start of the COVID-virus outbreak, face masks have become part and parcel of our daily lives. Medical and health experts insist that the simple protocol of wearing a face mask reduces the risk of contracting the disease as well as passing it on to others. And in Thailand, unlike in many other parts of the world, no one had any problem donning a protective face covering from day one. As days, weeks, and months have rolled on, other variations on the once homogenous-looking medical face mask have come about. According to one citizen, “while face masks help keep us safe, the disposable masks are causing damage to our environment. Aside from that, there are some people who can’t bear wearing a face mask so they explore other alternatives which will offer the same protection. In the process, they have become more creative.” Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Practical options Indeed, it is no longer strange to see some people now wearing face mask alternatives, such as those old reliable scarves for ladies. “Scarves or bandanas, aside from being more fashion-friendly, can also be a lot less restrictive than the mass-produced face masks and, therefore, more comfortable. Just dig out an old scarf from the back of the wardrobe and wrap it around your face,” suggests Paz Aquino, a senior citizen who admits not being comfortable wearing tight medical face masks. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/getting-creative-with-face-masks/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-24 - 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.

"Lucky I'd taken everyone home" - trucker severely injured as 18 wheeler and company bus collide Picture: Siam Rath A driver taking employees of Minibea (Bang Pa-in) home on a bus said it was lucky he had just delivered everyone home. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260505-lucky-id-taken-everyone-home-trucker-severely-injured-as-18-wheeler-and-company-bus-collide/

Picture: Siam Rath A driver taking employees of Minibea (Bang Pa-in) home on a bus said it was lucky he had just delivered everyone home. Hossama, 50, was doing a U-turn on the Rangsit to Nakhon Nayok road at Klong 9 when his vehicle collided with an 18 wheel Hino truck and overturned. He was uninjured. Not so lucky was the driver of the truck, 43 year old Phisit, who suffered two broken legs. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He managed to crawl out of the wreckage and was helped to Thanyaburi Hospital by Ruam Katanyu rescue services after the accident at 8 pm last night. Hossama was taken to the Thanyaburi police station for questioning. They will interview the trucker when he recovers, reported Siam Rath. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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 with foreign husband furious at having to pay 54,000 baht on designer goods Picture: Sanook Sanook reported on a post on the Facebook page of a woman called Pang Ban about her experience arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday afternoon. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260502-thai-woman-with-foreign-husband-furious-at-having-to-pay-54000-baht-on-designer-goods /

Picture: Sanook Sanook reported on a post on the Facebook page of a woman called Pang Ban about her experience arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday afternoon. The upshot was that they had to pay 54,000 baht tax on designer goods. Most of them had already been used, she claimed. She warned other travellers about this and complained about heavy handed tactics of Thai customs personnel. She said that this was their first trip back to Thailand in two years. It was just a visit, they live abroad. They appeared to have just come from South Korea, notes ASEAN NOW. All was proceeding well at immigration until they wheeled their bags to the customs area and were pulled aside and an x-ray scan was done. Then they were taken to a room where 8 or 9 customs officers surrounded them and went through their bags with a fine tooth comb. They were not interested in food and souvenirs - they were interested in brand name items like Gucci. Officers reminded them that designer items were limited to 20,000 baht value per person. The couple claimed that most of the items - clothes, wallets, sunglasses, bags, jewelry - were bought abroad and would be taken out of Thailand when they returned home abroad. Some shoes were brand new and were a present for a relative and they claimed a Gucci jacket had been worn. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe "Smell it if you don't believe me", she said referencing the aroma of dry-cleaning. The customs official allegedly did just that. She said that she was taken to another room and searched and her jewelry such as bracelet, ring, necklace and earrings were removed. Customs said that they would confiscate all the dutiable items if they didn't pay 54,000 baht. In addition they would be blacklisted from coming again. Presumably this just referred to the foreign partner, notes ASEAN NOW. They paid up with an electronic transfer according to a picture published by Sanook. "If you have designer brand goods beware," she warned. "It's terrible", she complained. Netizens commented in numbers advising that evidence of purchase from the start of journeys was needed and that goods could be held under a Customs Bond for reexport. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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 nurse swindled millions of baht in fraudulent flu jabs scheme, say ECD police Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that officers of the Economic Crime Division police yesterday served a warrant for defrauding the public on a 38 year old Thai registered nurse. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1260496-thai-nurse-swindled-millions-of-baht-in-fraudulent-flu-jabs-scheme-say-ecd-police/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that officers of the Economic Crime Division police yesterday served a warrant for defrauding the public on a 38 year old Thai registered nurse. Thonglim Jitpeng was arrested on Sanphawut Road in Bang Na, Bangkok, and denied the charges in a criminal court warrant issued last Friday. Investigators claim that during the pandemic she ran a business selling hand gel. Using this to gain the confidence of associates she then came up with a plan to administer flu jabs to companies, factories and government offices. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe She claimed investors could make 25 baht a jab then further claimed a deal was signed with Abbot Laboratories Co Ltd. Money was paid out at first then dried up. It all turned out to be a total scam. After complaints that people had been defrauded out of 5,035,580 baht, investigators discoved there was no such deal with Abbot. Daily News' sources said that the fraud is in fact much bigger with 50 individuals losing as much as 50 million baht. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-24 - 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. 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