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The bill to amend the organic law on the election of MPs, which seeks to return to using 500 seats as the basis for the calculation of party-list seats in Parliament, instead of the current 100, appears doomed after a number of MPs and senators stayed away from the session, leaving the joint sitting without a quorum. Former election commissioner and a member of the parliamentary panel scrutinising the bill, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, said in his Facebook post that the meeting collapsed because 22 legislators were absent. There was, however, no clear sign that the joint sitting would collapse, because several MPs managed to debate the bill. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/electoral-law-amendment-bill-doomed-as-joint-sitting-of-parliament-lacks-a-quorum/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-08-11 - 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!

Thailand agrees to allow former Sri Lankan president to take temporary shelter Gotabaya Rajapaksa. File photo: Wikipedia Sri Lanka’s ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is due to arrive in Bangkok tomorrow (Thursday) from Singapore, after the Thai government agreed to allow him temporary shelter in the country, with the intention of onward travel. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268506-thailand-agrees-to-allow-former-sri-lankan-president-to-take-temporary-shelter/

Gotabaya Rajapaksa. File photo: Wikipedia Sri Lanka’s ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is due to arrive in Bangkok tomorrow (Thursday) from Singapore, after the Thai government agreed to allow him temporary shelter in the country, with the intention of onward travel. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said that the former president holds a diplomatic passport, which was approved by the Sri Lankan government, and can stay in Thailand for up to 90 days in accordance with the Thai regulations. He said that the former president can stay in a hotel, a rented apartment or house, while admitting one potential issue, that being the Sri Lankan people in Thailand. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-agrees-to-allow-former-sri-lankan-president-to-take-temporary-shelter/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-08-11 - 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!

Doesn’t the TAT want tourists here in Thailand? OPINION We reported this week that The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to propose extending the length of stay for tourist visas and visa on arrival (VOA) to a maximum of 45 days. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268505-doesn’t-the-tat-want-tourists-here-in-thailand/

OPINION We reported this week that The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to propose extending the length of stay for tourist visas and visa on arrival (VOA) to a maximum of 45 days. According to TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn, a proposal will be presented to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) at a meeting due to be held on August 19. The proposal will call for the period of stay for tourist visas to be extended from the current 30 days to a maximum of 45 days, while the period of stay for visa on arrival extended from 15 days to a maximum of 45 days. The extension would be effective from the date of approval and run through to December 31, 2022. Of course, the idea is that the longer they stay the more money they will spend. But surely if they really want to encourage tourism, why not increase tourist visas to longer periods and why limit it to December when the supposed high season still has 4 months to run. Tourist visas or visas on arrival .....it is still confusing at the moment, so hopefully they will make it all clear soon. Vietnam is proposing expanded visas Over in Vietnam, their tourism minister was reported on Monday to have proposed expanding visa exemption for tourists from the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India to boost sector recovery. He also suggested the government consider simplifying immigration procedures to attract foreign tourists as Vietnam reopened after over two years of border closure, he said in a report submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Tuesday. Tax Cuts too The minister is also proposed extending tax cuts to tourism businesses until the end of 2023 to help them recover after the pandemic crisis. Though Vietnam reopened tourism and lifted most Covid restrictions, Hung said travel firms and those working in the tourism industry are grappling with difficulties and have not really benefited directly from current policies. The country welcomed 954,000 foreign arrivals in the first seven months this year, up nine times year-on-year. Singapore According to online information, the period of stay permitted is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer upon arrival at the Singapore Changi Airport. It is normally between 14 to 30 days. There is strictly no extension of visa validity or change of visa type. However, you can submit a fresh application upon the expiry or upon utilisation of your current visa. But please note that each visa application is assessed on its own merits. SE Asia is competitive Bottom line is Thailand is competing with Vietnam, Singapore and Cambodia and other countries in the region, so they need to make it easy for tourists to come here. Make the entry simple for passport holders and they should be able to decide whether they want a 30, 60 or even a 90-tourist visa on arrival. Even with flexible return tickets there should not be an issue. The idea of tax cuts for the tourist industry could potentially be a life safer for many small Thai businesses, especially those attractions that still have daily running costs whether one tourist or 50 arrive to say go on an elephant trek or safari. Bottom line is the TAT and government should have offered these longer visas long ago, but better late than never. People need to plan holidays in advance so the sooner the Government confirms any new regulations the better, then travel agents around the world can start confirming their clients’ bookings. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-11 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

to continue: Thailand Live Thursday 11 August 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1268504-thailand-live-thursday-11-august-2022/

16-year-old Thai boy named World Athletics fastest 100m under 18 sprinter Thailand’s sprint sensation, 16-year-old Puripol Boonson, has been named by the World Athletics as the Number One 100-metre sprinter in the Under-18 age group, with a record of 10.09 seconds, set at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships held in Colombia last Tuesday (August 2nd), according to the World Athletics website. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268473-16-year-old-thai-boy-named-world-athletics-fastest-100m-under-18-sprinter/

Royal Thai Navy considering accepting Chinese-made engines for its submarine purchases The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is considering accepting Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine to replace the German-made MTU396 diesel engine, which had been rejected for export to China by the German company. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268481-royal-thai-navy-considering-accepting-chinese-made-engines-for-its-submarine-purchases/

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Bangkok governor Chadchart thanks firebrand Chuwit for his nightclub tips Picture: INN INN carried a report in which the new governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sillipunt thanked former politician, ex-convict and firebrand TV host Chuwit Kamolwisit for his tips on which nightclubs to investigate. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268460-bangkok-governor-chadchart-thanks-firebrand-chuwit-for-his-nightclub-tips/

Picture: INN INN carried a report in which the new governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sillipunt thanked former politician, ex-convict and firebrand TV host Chuwit Kamolwisit for his tips on which nightclubs to investigate. Chuwit had drawn the attention of the administration to various clubs in the Ekkamai and Rachada areas in comments widely reported in the Thai press. Chadchart, while acknowledging the help of Chuwit, said his advisor Gen Adis Ngamjitsuksri was really focusing on fire exits at the moment and would be leaving other mischief making to police investigations. Chadchart was in Khao San Road as calls were made to change the status of the area from a nightlife area into a "stationary zone". This would be tricky, he said as Bangkok was a tourism city and Khao San a recognised nightlife area with many businesses. He was checking that facilities opened as nightclubs had the required fire exits in the wake of the fire tragedy in Sattahip at Mountain B that claimed 15 lives and injured dozens of patrons. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-10 - 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

Video: Drugged deliveryman leads police on 100KM chase across five provinces after going through checkpoint Picture: 77kaoded Dramatic video footage published by 77kaoded showed the moment a Hino truck took off at a police checkpoint in the North Samrong area of Samut Prakan. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268456-video-drugged-deliveryman-leads-police-on-100km-chase-across-five-provinces-after-going-through-checkpoint/

Picture: 77kaoded Dramatic video footage published by 77kaoded showed the moment a Hino truck took off at a police checkpoint in the North Samrong area of Samut Prakan. The driver - later identified as Natthaphol Onam aged 46 - smashed into another vehicle then led police on a near 100 kilometer chase that finally ended in Ayutthaya. By that time he'd gone through five provinces. The drama started in Soi Praisanee then continued along Sri Nakharin, Thepparak Road then the Rama 2 expressway. Picture: 77kaoded Pursued by police on a motorcycle the driver even went through a barrier at a toll booth amid flashing lights set up by Highway Police. Finally after suffering a puncture on route 3111 in Bang Sai, Natthaphol jumped out the left window of his cab and into a pond pursued by officers who took him into custody. There was still time for him to try and ditch his jeans that officers recovered. They contained a Ya Ba pill. By this time ten vehicles belonging to members of the public had been damaged. Picture: 77kaoded Taken back to North Samrong police station the suspect admitted taking Ya Ba on his delivery round and intended to take one more later. He'd slowed down for the checkpoint but when officers wanted to search inside he decided to flee. He has been charged with drug taking, drug possession and reckless driving and detained. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-10 - 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

Pattaya doing something about the hanging wires after social media shaming by foreign tourist Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that City Hall in Pattaya were doing something about the city's infamous hanging wires after a shaming on social media. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268454-pattaya-doing-something-about-the-hanging-wires-after-social-media-shaming-by-foreign-tourist/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that City Hall in Pattaya were doing something about the city's infamous hanging wires after a shaming on social media. They said that a video had been posted by a foreign tourist. It concerned a road leading to South Pattaya which has a leaning powerpole in the area of a Big C. Deputy mayor Manote Nongyai admitted it was a terrible mess. He said there were plans to bury cables and the leaning pole would be removed after checks to make sure it didn't represent an immediate danger to passing tourists. He added that there are plans to bury cables on nine roads in the resort before the end of this month. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-10 - 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 seat belt rules to apply from September By Editor Not wearing a seat belt in any seat of a car in Thailand will soon be punishable by a 2,000 baht fine. The rule will come into effect 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette on September 5, 2022. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268452-new-seat-belt-rules-to-apply-from-september/

By Editor Not wearing a seat belt in any seat of a car in Thailand will soon be punishable by a 2,000 baht fine. The rule will come into effect 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette on September 5, 2022. Parents will be required to ensure that their children wear a seat belt for the duration of their journey to prevent injuries in the event of an accident. Under Section 123 of the Road Traffic Act (No.13) 2022, drivers and passengers must abide by the following rules while travelling in a car. The driver must wear a seat belt at all times while driving. Front seat passengers and passengers sitting in the back or any other row are required to wear a seat belt at all times while travelling in a vehicle. Passengers under 6 years old must be seated in a child safety seat at all times while travelling to prevent injuries in the event of an accident. Passengers under 135 centimetres must wear a seat belt at all times while travelling to prevent injuries in the event of an accident. Drivers and passengers who are unable to wear a seat belt for health reasons are exempt from complying with Section 123. However, that person must introduce other safety measures to prevent injuries in the event of an accident. Anyone who does not comply will be liable to a fine or no more than 2,000 baht. Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/08/new-seat-belt-rules-to-apply-from-september/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-08-10 - 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!

Hapless, drunk would-be thief spends night in sushi shop - then leaves his licence behind Sanook Thai Caption: Couldn't steal so takes a nap Sanook reported on the antics of a presumably drunk man who tried to steal from a sushi shop in Chiang Mai. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268451-hapless-drunk-would-be-thief-spends-night-in-sushi-shop-then-leaves-his-licence-behind/

Sanook Thai Caption: Couldn't steal so takes a nap Sanook reported on the antics of a presumably drunk man who tried to steal from a sushi shop in Chiang Mai. Having failed to do that he slept all night in his shorts in the VIP room before leaving after 5am on his motorcycle dropping his licence in the car park. Clear CCTV at the Daiso Sushi restaurant on the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai stadium road revealed the incident that started around midnight Monday. After parking his bike beside the restaurant he broke in at the rear then tried and failed to smash his way into an accounts' office. He smashed a door leading upstairs in a rage then after sleeping for a while on a table removed his clothes except for his shorts and turned the air and light on in the VIP room where he spent the rest of the night as if it was his own home. At 5.10 am he turned the lights out and left. Sitthisak, 31, the manager discovered all this when he turned up for work in the morning and reviewed the CCTV. In addition a driving licence was found in the car park and when the picture was compared to the man on the CCTV it was clearly him. Mae Ping Muang police took that into evidence and dusted for prints before they issued a summons for trespass at night and attempted theft. Sitthisak said the man was clearly drunk adding that at one point he had relieved himself up against a door inside the restaurant. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-10 - 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

All-out Efforts Done to Protect Bangkok from Flooding PATHUM THANI, Aug 10 (TNA) – The director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department has ordered subordinates to collaboratively manage their pump stations connected to the drainage system of Bangkok to protect the capital from flooding as water from the North and high tides will converge on Aug 10-16. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268450-all-out-efforts-done-to-protect-bangkok-from-flooding/

PATHUM THANI, Aug 10 (TNA) – The director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department has ordered subordinates to collaboratively manage their pump stations connected to the drainage system of Bangkok to protect the capital from flooding as water from the North and high tides will converge on Aug 10-16. Praphit Chanma, the director-general, issued the order as he was inspecting water in the Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal in Pathum Thani province. It is a key canal that the department uses to receive water from the North before it flows to Bangkok through the Chao Phraya River. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-995098 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-08-10 - 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: Knife wielding man "high on meth" causes restaurant customers to scatter in fear Sanook Thai Caption: All the customers clear out Sanook published a five minute+ video from two CCTV angles when trouble raged in a moo katha (pork BBQ) restaurant in the Bang Yi Khan police jurisdiction in the Thai capital Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268449-video-knife-wielding-man-high-on-meth-causes-restaurant-customers-to-scatter-in-fear/

Sanook Thai Caption: All the customers clear out Sanook published a five minute+ video from two CCTV angles when trouble raged in a moo katha (pork BBQ) restaurant in the Bang Yi Khan police jurisdiction in the Thai capital Bangkok. The VIDEO showed a situation gradually escalating out of control before a man armed with two large knives caused all the customers to flee into the rain outside leaving him still ranting. Bang Yi Khan police arrested a man at 4 am Tuesday in a house nearby following the incident at the Arun Amarin 36 shop around 7.30pm on Monday. Chayanon, 24, was charged with criminal damage, drug taking, threatening behavior and weapons offences. Police said a combination of meds and drugs set him off. Shop owner Juthalak told the media that the man came in to make an order and said: "Are you f+++ing looking at me?" to a staffer who replied that they were just taking his order. The staffer advised him to go home and cool off before the man said to other customers "wash the soles of my @@@@ feet". Things escalated with some stool throwing. The customer then left and returned with two knives saying to customers: "You want this do you?" One customer picked up a baseball bat and the melee caused all the customers to flee into the rain. The man damaged items in the shop and cars outside. Juthalak said she had seen him on his motorcycle but never spoken to him. She discovered after that he was a crystal meth or "ice" user. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-10 - 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

Leaked papers suggest issue of Prayut’s 8-years was discussed by charter drafting committee ahead of drafting ByThai Enquirer The contentious issue of whether the 2014 coup leader and current Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, is going to breach the 8-year term limit of the Prime Ministership, continues to be the talk of the town with the latest information released showing that the term count began when Gen Prayut became Prime Minister in 2014. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1268442-leaked-papers-suggest-issue-of-prayut’s-8-years-was-discussed-by-charter-drafting-committee-ahead-of-drafting/

ByThai Enquirer The contentious issue of whether the 2014 coup leader and current Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, is going to breach the 8-year term limit of the Prime Ministership, continues to be the talk of the town with the latest information released showing that the term count began when Gen Prayut became Prime Minister in 2014. Kanchanee Walayasevi, the leader of the Peace-Loving Thais group, came out to reveal information on her social media page documents which showed that the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) had in meeting #500 discussed this issue. According to the data revealed and yet to be authenticated, the clock for the 8-year term for General Prayut as Prime Minister may have started 3-months after the May 2014 coup although some of the CDC members have come out to say that the clock started after HM the King countersigned the charter in 2017. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42617/leaked-papers-suggest-issue-of-prayuts-8-years-was-discussed-by-charter-drafting-committee-ahead-of-drafting/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-08-10 - 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!