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Daily News Thai Cap: Arrested after chase! Pattaya station chief Pol Col Kulachart Kulachai revealed details of an early morning chase of an armed man after an argument developed between two men and a woman in Phaniat Chang Soi 10. Taken into custody was a man called Jane Ditphakdee, 42, along with a Ruger handgun and several types of 9mm and .38 mm ammunition, reported Daily News. A BMW was also taken into evidence. The incident started when sergeant Prasopchoke Asasuk on motorcycle patrol got a call from a woman that there was trouble brewing at 6.07 am. He went to the soi where two men and a woman were arguing. In the waistband of Jane's pants there appeared to be a gun and the officer moved to arrest him The officer was hit twice and pushed over. The assailant fled in a BMW and a chase ensued as back-up was called. Jane crashed on his way to Sukhumvit Road near the Prapha intersection after he braked and hit power poles. He still resisted arrest by running off and hitting a member of the public who tried to stop him. He was eventually taken into custody and a search of his vehicle revealed the ammunition and gun. He has been charged with illegal weapon possession, having a weapon in a public place and resisting arrest and has been detained. It emerged that the three people had met to sort out a love triangle - the other man was the woman's husband or boyfriend and Jane was having an affair with the woman. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-15 - 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

Power struggles between Thai and Australian Hells Angels are escalating as the shooting of a local was reported and images have emerged of Australian bikies partying in their colours in Thailand -- Feud between Aussie and Thai Hells Angels erupts with shooting of local man -- Tension between the rivals for years has reignited after Covid travel limits ended -- Claims Aussie bikies building 'power network' with party town Pattaya as centre By PETER VINCENT FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Australian Hells Angels are believed to have been involved in the shooting of a Thai man and are causing 'havoc' as a violent new chief seeks to build 'a power network' in Thailand. The bikie bang, which is forbidden from displaying its insignia in Western Australia, is active in Thailand and Australian members are violently clashing with locals since Covid-19 travel restrictions lifted. Australian bikie gang members have been involved in a brutal feud with Thai locals since at least 2015, with several arrested on major charges. But the power struggle appears to have escalated this month, as images have emerged of many Australian bikies partying in their colours in Thailand. A Thai man, who is a member of the local Hells Angels chapter claims he was shot when his home and ­Harley Davidson motorcycle shop were sprayed with bullets. Full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11107839/Australian-Hells-Angels-bikies-creating-havoc-Thailand-shooting-occurs-Pattaya.html -- © Copyright Daily Mail 2022-08-15 - 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!

By Nop Meechukhun Surat Thani – Surat Thani has welcomed more than 57,000 tourists during a long weekend between August 12th and the 14th, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported on Sunday, August 14th. Nanthawan Siripokphat, director of TAT’s Surat Thani office, revealed that there are approximately 57,243 people traveling to the province, 32,604 were Thais and 24,639 were foreigners. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/14/surat-thani-welcomes-more-than-57000-thai-and-foreign-tourists-during-three-day-long-weekend/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-08-15 - 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!

Picture: Sanook by TNR Staff GOING viral on Thai social media today (August 14) is a condo owner being ordered by court to pay a fine of 141,500 baht to the juristic person for keeping a pet in the unit in violation of the regulations, Sanook.com said. Drawing attention to this case was PropCons web page which runs stories on real estate and investment. According to the verdict by Southern Bangkok Civil Court published on this web page the defendant was ordered to pay 141,500 baht plus 5% interest on the principal amounting to 140,000 baht from the date the lawsuit was filed, December 8, 2021, until the plaintiff receives the full sum. Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/08/14/condo-owner-fined-over-140000-baht-for-keeping-a-pet-in-the-unit/ -- © Copyright THAI NEWSROOM 2022-08-15 - 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!

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit UDON THANI (NNT) - The "Falcon Strike 2022" joint military exercise between Thailand and China began on Sunday (14 Aug) in Udon Thani province. The 10-day exercise between China’s People’s Liberation Army Airforce (PLAAF) and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is the fifth annual drill between the two nations since 2015. The previous exercise was held in 2019 before being put on hold for two years due to the pandemic. During the exercise, the PLAAF is deploying six J-10C/S fighter jets, a JH-7AI fighter-bomber and a Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning (AEW) and control (AEW) aircraft. The RTAF will meanwhile send five Gripen fighters, three Alpha Jet attack planes and an AEW plane. Key training courses such as air support, strikes on ground targets and small- and large-scale troop deployments will be included. The joint training exercise aims to enhance mutual trust and friendship between the two air forces, deepen practical cooperation and promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220814162747053 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-08-15 - 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!

OPINION Many retired ex-pats here in Thailand have seen quite a few of their friends return home over the past couple of years. With the global cost of living rising, it is a topic that is being discussed daily as our pensions are shrinking, while the costs are rising like fuel, food, and electricity. We, therefore, decided to look at the comparisons between living in the UK and Thailand. As I currently live in Pattaya, I decided that if I moved back to the UK I would still want to be by the sea and not in a big city. Therefore, for this comparison, I selected Brighton in the UK. Both are busy seaside towns with large numbers of tourists, great restaurants, and hotels and both have beaches, even though Brighton’s is mainly pebbly. Many people like to retire to both towns and they both offer good facilities including healthcare as well. So, using the website Numbeo you can compare the actual monthly cost of living between any two towns. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Brighton#:~:text=Summary about cost of living,New York (without rent) Numbeo states that you would need around THB177,085.54 (£4,127.19) in Brighton to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with THB79,000.00 in Pattaya (assuming you rent in both towns). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare the cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). Of course, if you are retired you probably do not pay tax. If you were a family of four your estimated monthly costs would be £2,619 without rent. For a single person, the estimated monthly costs are £756 without rent. The website says that Brighton is 33.60% less expensive than New York (without rent). However, Brighton is 74.91% more expensive than Pattaya. Now before you start saying these comparisons are not realistic, we are only going by Numbeo’s figures. Numbeo launched in 2009 is the world's largest cost of living database. Numbeo is also a crowd-sourced global database of quality-of-life data and housing indicators. Rentals As far as rentals are concerned, we also checked out the cost of renting a studio in both towns using the Rightmove Realtors websites, as they have offices in both Pattaya and Brighton. They showed a studio in central Pattaya at THB11,000 a month and in central Brighton a similar studio for £995. Both studios were in town and were furnished. On average rental prices in Brighton are 297.04% higher than in Pattaya. Restaurant Prices in Brighton are 212.06% higher than in Pattaya. Groceries Prices in Brighton are 37.03% higher than in Pattaya. Local Purchasing Power in Brighton is 272.01% higher than in Pattaya. Of course, if you were going to factor in the actual cost of returning from Thailand to the UK with extremely high airfares and freight costs, then it can become quite an expensive move. As a UK passport holder but with no UK address in the past few years, it may take time to re-register with a local doctor again before you can start getting free medical attention in the NHS hospitals. And bear in mind the waiting lists for operations is long, due to the backlog caused by the pandemic. OK Brighton is hotter this week than Pattaya, but personally I think I will save my monthly running costs and remain in the land of smiles. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-15 - 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

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand is reported to be one of the top five destinations for Chinese tourists following the lifting of pandemic-era regulations, indicating an upbeat outlook for the nation’s tourism industry during the peak travel season. According to Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a report from Chinese media outlet The Global Times ranked Thailand fourth among the most popular destinations for mainland Chinese tourists. Coming in at first, second and third place are South Korea, Japan and the United States, respectively, with France ranking fifth in the data provided by Variflight civil aviation data service. So far this month, international flights out of China have increased by 200% over the same period last month and this trend is expected to continue over the remainder of the year. The spokesperson noted the arrival of more Chinese tourists will greatly benefit the Thai tourism industry, as Chinese visitors accounted for a quarter of all international visitors before the pandemic. International arrivals by all modes of transportation totaled 1.05 million last month, up 118% from a monthly average of 482,719 arrivals from January to June. An increase in international arrivals and signs of recovery in the aviation sector have been encouraging for the tourism industry and the overall Thai economy in the second half of the year. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220813170457896 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-08-15 - 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!

Picture: Siam Rath It took just a day for police in Chonburi to crack a safe robbing case - with more than a little help from the thief. Habitual criminal Surasak, 29, from Surin, had gone into the offices of a metalworks in Muang district on Thursday where he stole a medium sized safe and contents, reported Siam Rath. It contained a large quantity of cash and checks. He then went on TikTok to boast about his windfall - his name on the video platform is joker764. Police had the last laugh on him, however. He was heard to say that he'd woken up that morning, gone out now he had loads of money to pay off his debts. Yippee! Someone from the metalworks recognised the money, said Chonburi provincial chief Pol Maj-Gen Attasit Kitjahan at a press conference yesterday. The police went to Bang Sai sub-district and the hapless safe robber was soon in custody and the loot and safe were found inside his room. He said he needed money - and had many offences of theft to his name. He was charged with theft at night using a conveyance. ASEAN NOW notes that there is no charge for "crass stupidity by posting online" but perhaps there should be.... -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-13 - 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

OPINION | by Rooster News this week that the authorities in Thailand were finally going to make seatbelts in the rear of cars mandatory set Rooster off on one of those Wiki/YouTube hunts: Looking at Public Information Films from my UK childhood and many after I left my homeland. I don’t mind telling you I had some tears. Not of nostalgia but because many of the graphic messages about safety - often directed at children - have stayed with me to this day. I nearly lost my beloved kid last year in a swimming related incident. We’re never, ever too old to learn. And learning is what many Thais need to do. Many know about helmets, seatbelts and drink driving but do little. The message just doesn't get across. Laissez-faire reigns in the Land of the Free (to Kill Yourself and Others). Many know little of the dangers posed by old fridges, playing on farms or one that claims so many young lives - ponds in gardens and lakes in villages. Maybe they could take a leaf out of the UK’s playbook of yesteryear to get messages about basic safety understood loud and clear. Thailand has some brilliant advertising gurus and filmmakers who could be gainfully employed. I’ve seen only a few campaigns in my time here that really hit home (Taa Wiset or Magic Eyes about littering was one but was soon abandoned). The government needs to coordinate with the private sector to get graphic and tell people some home truths. Examples of PIF’s are endless; many were produced by the now disbanded Central Office of Information in the UK. I’d recommend readers to Google. Some have been ridiculed like 1950’s films about nuclear attack where people caught outside were told to “lie down”. But even when I saw that in a famous banned film, in a public Carshalton hall in 1980, it had a dramatic effect. I left the hall in a daze, thankful, for now, to be alive. Jimmy Savile - now the rightfully disgraced and gladly dead paedophile - featured in one of the most famous PIF’s (known as Public Service Announcements in the US). He told us to “Clunk Click every trip” - no mention of the word seatbelt in the slogan yet everyone knew what it meant and does to this day. Savile and other huge celebrities of the time used their fame to get attention to issues. Clunk Click ran for years through the 70s with “in your face” images every bit as horrible as the facial injuries shown of people who didn’t belt up. In one Savile compares a person unbuckled in a car to a solitary egg in a box. How it can move around if shaken. One I’d never seen was a series from 1998-2003 and pertinent to the wearing of seatbelts in the rear of cars in Thailand. It was about Julie. The voiceover ran as Julie drove out happily with her kids: “Like most victims Julie knew her killer”. (A white van is seen in the rear hoodwinking the viewer). “It was her son who wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. After crushing her to death he sat back down”. Show that in Thailand and they’d get the message. It’s stark and horrific. Unexpected and powerful. And very un-PC like so many of the films before weak liberals worried about shocking the public into sense. As a biker and car driver one slogan that stayed with me was “Think once, think twice, think BIKE!” advising motorists to look out for riders as they couldn’t be seen well. Again, the biker is mangled. Unpleasant - just like death really is. (Thailand has no problem showing those kinds of grisly pictures though in the last few years editors are getting out too much vaseline for my ghoulish liking). One cartoon from 1971 contains frightening messages about the perils of discarded fridges that trap children. It begins: “To you it’s just a worn out fridge, but to a child it’s a caravan, a ship, a castle, even a bed”. “Old fridges can KILL” says the final message. That was a new one on Mrs R who inquired as to why I was welling up again at my keyboard. One from 1979 featuring Robert Powell was about the dangers to young children of garden ponds. It contained a memorable line after a blonde haired girl was floating dead: “Don’t expect children as young as this to stay away from ponds just because you told them”. A vital message to all parents, me included, that words are just that - fences and covers are what’s needed until kids grow up. Yes, this requires money to be spent, a big issue in Thailand where savings cost lives. Longer films called “Apaches” about the dangers of playing on farms and “Powerful Stuff” about threats from electricity have equally powerful messages, relevant to every society, in every era. “Drinking and Driving Wrecks Lives” ran throughout the 1980s and 1990s. One featured a happy scene as Mungo Jerry’s iconic “In The Summertime” played with that classic line: “Have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find”. The answer is soon plain - death for you and others. One features no cars - just a little girl with tears in her eyes as off screen her mum berates her dad for being a murderer behind the wheel. Jeez, that was powerful. Another about going through what the British call amber lights is entitled “Amber Gambler” (1977). A guy who races to get through the lights meets himself in another car. Ring any bells Thailand? Many utilize humor and that would go down well in LOS. One is about good parking by a man who finally gets it right called Reginald Molehusband. He inspired the phrase “Doing a Reggie”. There are countless others, many aimed at children during early evening viewing in the 60s, 70s and 80s about stranger danger, crossing the road etc etc. So come on Thailand, make it mandatory for TV channels to air films, during kids’ shows (like the nightly soaps!). Don’t expect people - adults or children - to KNOW. Inform them. Use language they’ll understand and images they’ll never forget. Like Savile said about unsecured people in cars: “You are a loose object despite being the best driver”. Posters will say Thailand will never learn about safety. I beg to differ. Educate properly, get the message across in a strong, maybe humorous way with a clever catchphrase. Lives could be saved, today and for years to come. Just do it! The changes to the rear seat belt law showed how far Thailand has to come. After it was announced that “D-Day” was September 5th the RTP showed they hadn’t got the first clue. They were planning on “softly, softly” as they always do. With that ominous caveat that fines are at the discretion of the officer. We all know what that means - if they can be bothered, if there is something in it for them. The government needs to be responsible for the advertising. And the police for the enforcement. Send a strong message and stop all the faffing about on this and so many other safety issues. In other - but safety related - news this week the fallout from Mountain B raged on like the fire. The owner “Sia B” started paying out initial sums of 50,000 baht for funerals. He seemed genuine enough but hapless. There really is no excuse for people who run clubs. They need to be responsible and so do the pathetic authorities who turn a blind eye, take back handers and fail to enforce. It’s the public who suffer, but through their connivance Somchai Saboo (Joe Soap) isn’t entirely innocent. Ever met a Thai who would pay a bigger fine at the station rather than a smaller roadside offering? Sia B’s lawyer offered excuses, plenty of “wai-ing” and merit making was done and one could smell the charred remains of Santika pub in Thong Lo 13 years ago in nostrils familiar to the stench of corruption. Nothing has been learned. Except how to make a public show of course. This was done in an absolutely crass photo shoot at a temple where a heroic manager who went back into the flames and died had to play second fiddle to a large million baht check from the Labour Minister. Yes, following labor benefits’ law is important. So is modesty and a little quiet respect to the dead. In international news two deaths of superstar female singers saddened the world. Judith Durham - the Australian vocalist of The Seekers had an angelic voice; I’ll Never Find Another You and Georgy Girl were iconic songs. Then Olivia Newton-John - star of Grease and singer of many number ones - died of cancer. She worked tirelessly to help sufferers from the disease. In Florida Trump was jumping up and down screaming “Banana Republic” after the FBI looked in his safe. Sorry, Mr ex-president (he couldn’t even get that right), that’s what cops do to toerag criminals. Best news of the week was the continuing efforts by the courts to strip conspiracy theorist and all round rotten egg Alex Jones of everything he owns. To suggest to grieving parents of little children that Sandy Hook was all a hoax needs more than damages, however. It needs jail time and plenty of it to send a message to the internet trolls that “we are coming after you”. As the English Premier League kicked off (heralding life to begin again for Spurs mad Rooster!), EPL legend Ryan Giggs appeared in court for beating up his girlfriend. She found a message on his phone about him going to a bar to “pull some clunge”. That was a new ‘word’ for me. A four letter one starting with a “C” that fronted a Gigg’s email, was not. How the mighty have fallen. Back in Thailand police in Pathum Thani took the murderess of a plastic shop owner for a reenactment. She’d blown away her boyfriend with four shots in two separate salvoes after he’d dared her over the phone to come and shoot him. (Note to self: don’t challenge a Thai woman in this way….) The aging mother of the victim, killed after presenting alms to monks outside his shop, aimed a kick at her head as she “graaped” in forgiveness on the tarmac. Many think the reenactments should end. Journalists - especially at Amarin TV - would rather they continue as they are great theater and great copy. For the police, they tie up cases neatly - with the only effort required being to keep the lynch mob at bay before heading back to the station for some much needed ‘som tam gai yang’ and a count of the day’s takings. Top value for money this week was a porn star - difficult to describe her in any other way - called Oi Roy Joop (Oi Kiss). She’d removed her kit and got her “mammaries out for the lads” at Toy Station in Lamlukka. The great publicity cost her a mere 5,000 baht for offending public morals. She’ll probably spend it on more “body art” as the lovers of tattoos often call the ruining of the human body. I’m not a fan. What’s wrong with nice skin? Not surprisingly the manager of Toy Station is in worse trouble because he didn’t have a licence…. Do they ever? Finally, my thanks to all the posters who commented on last week’s feature about US YouTuber “My Mate Nate”. Especially to those who appreciated the new picture format and a young man making good in Thailand. But also to the many detractors who had a go at Nate, Rooster’s apparent “idolization” of him and who clearly displayed their pathetic envy of a successful young man. You proved my point admirably. Rooster -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-13 - 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 Thai media 77kaoded went into facetious overdrive in comments about Maruphong Road in the eastern seaboard city of Chachoengsao. They said it was ideal for motorists who love to sit for ages in traffic and go nowhere. Well, perhaps 1km in an hour. They said rain at rush hour time just made matters worse. They published a four minute video that was proof of the torture. And reported that finally after many vehicles gave up and reversed back there was a collision between an SUV and a motorcycle that injured two children. This resulted directly from the reversing back behavior, they claimed. Connecting roads were just as bad they said. Welcome to Thailand where rainy rush hours never disappoint, notes ASEAN NOW in an attempt to match local facetiousness. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Sanook Thai Caption: Plea to help "Nong Kim" An important story published by Sanook and translated in full by ASEAN NOW brings home the full extent of the tragedy that was last week's fire at the Mountain B pub in Sattahip. It involves a seriously burned young lady from Vietnam who was saved from death by a brave Thai airman who died himself. And shows perhaps all that is good - and bad - in Thailand regarding the response of its people and medical services to such a monumental tragedy. Apinya, 28, is a close friend of Dinh Kim Le, 25, who was severely injured in the fire. She said her friend had been in the country for four years and the Vietnamese national would come and go to Thailand and was living in Sattahip. She is a lively and attractive woman who can speak Thai clearly. Picture: Sanook On the night of the fire last week Kim had called Apinya to invite her to the pub too, but Apinya said she would follow on later. The next thing she heard about was the fire. She tried to contact her on the phone but there was no answer. She rushed to Sirikit Hospital where she saw her dear friend in a pitiful state with 70-80% burns on her body on a gurney outside ER. Medics were frantically running about as 10 terribly burned other victims were waiting in line for treatment. She described how her friend was screaming out in tortured agony. Apinya asked a doctor if she could take her friend elsewhere and the doctor agreed so she took her in her own car to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. There she had to put a 50,000 baht deposit down before they would accept her friend for treatment. Throughout the next six days Kim was in a bacteria excluding bubble unable to be visited by friends. Apinya was only able to watch the pitiable sight of her friend from behind glass as her eyes remained open while she was on a ventilator. Picture: Sanook Tears rolled down the victim's face as she tried to raise her hand in recognition. She appeared to be trying to say something. In her time in the hospital she racked up a bill of 630,614.80 baht. With costs spiralling out of control Apinya contacted her friend's brother who agreed to try and transfer her to a cheaper state hospital. Ten hospitals refused to help saying they "wouldn't dare to treat her" according to Apinya. Finally yesterday the Queen Savang Vadhana Merorial Hospital in Sri Racha accepted her. Kim's family have paid the Pattaya hospital a further 150,000 baht of the bill there. Apinya said she wants the owner of Mountain B to do more to help and pay the entire bill. So far he has paid 10,000 baht which is obviously nowhere near enough. Apinya noted that her friend is a foreign national so does not have the same rights to care as Thais. Kim's elder sister in Vietnam has set up an appeal there. Kim's story has been headline news in her homeland but her story has not been told in Thailand - until now. All Kim's friends are rallying round and there are plans underway to contact the Vietnamese embassy for assistance. Apinya wanted in put on record the eternal gratitude of friends to the family of commander Phalitdech Chumngern of the Thai air force. Phalit died after bravely pulling Kim from the flames and saving her life before he himself died in the tragedy. ASEAN NOW notes that "Sia B", the Mountain B owner, has been released on bail in the sum of 300,000 baht and has paid 50,000 baht to victims for funeral expenses so far. He faces charges of negligence causing death and not having a licence to operate a pub. This is the first story we have carried noting the amount of money given to an injured person. There are almost forty of those. There are at least 15 deaths though Apinya said Phalitdech was the 17th in the report by Sanook. "Sia B" has promised to do more to help and done plenty of "wai-ing" and making merit outside his burned out facility. In a related story the Labour Ministry made a big song and dance of presenting a large million baht check at a photo-op at the funeral of a brave manager who was killed helping victims in the fire. He was Thai and eligible for work related benefits. Perhaps the Thai authorities might step up to help an innocent foreign national legally residing in Thailand who through no fault of her own had her life irrevocably changed after a simple night out went wrong, ASEAN NOW suggests. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more! Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

By Online Reporter The bus service that operates between Hua Hin and Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. With immediate effect, a total of six services per day will now operate between the two locations. The first departure from Hua Hin begins at 7:30, while the last departure is at 18:00. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-to-suvarnabhumi-airport-bus-service-updated/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-12 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Picture: Naew Na Naew Na reported that the driver of a pick-up lost control slamming into four other vehicles before killing a 61 year old woman. Phra Samut Chedi police were called to the area of Suksawat Soi 67 outside a property sales office in Samut Prakan. They found five damaged vehicles including a motorcycle. Lamyong Srithawat was dead with multiple fractures. She'd been on a Honda Wave motorcycle. Picture: Naew Na A Mazda pick-up with a man called Srisuwan, 31, behind the wheel had caused the carnage. The driver was at the scene waiting to give evidence. He said he worked for a window company and had driven the vehicle to deposit money at a nearby ATM. He claimed that he was travelling fast and a vehicle in front braked suddenly causing him to lose control and hit a parked vehicle and the woman on the bike who was making a U-turn. He was taken away for questioning. -- © 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

By Thai PBS World’s Business Desk The US is the world’s largest economy and the US dollar is widely used worldwide, as a result, the actions and decisions of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) have a profound impact on the baht and other currencies. Thailand has a relatively small, open economy that is heavily dependent on the export of goods and services. So, any changes in the world’s largest economy create ripples in Thailand as well. The Fed has aggressively increased its benchmark rate this year to fight rapidly rising inflation. It effected a 0.75 percentage point interest hike in July as inflation soared to a 40-year high in June, hitting 9.1 percent. With the latest data suggesting strong new jobs growth in July, markets are predicting another hike by 0.75 percentage point when the Fed meets in September, the third straight hike of that magnitude. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-the-us-rate-hike-impacts-the-baht-and-thailands-economy/ -- © 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!

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!

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

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

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

By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – Phuket is expecting more Indian tourists which will generate more than 7.5 billion baht this year, 2022, after a recent roadshow in India, according to relevant officials. The Vice President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) Mr. Arnuparb Wechwanichsanong told the Phuket Express, “The PPAO and the Phuket Toruism Association went to the roadshow tourism marketing event in India from August 1st to August 6th, 2022. The event marked the 75th anniversary of Thai and Indian relations.” “Indian tourists are Phuket’s top tourism market. From May this year until now there have been 87,292 Indian tourists who have visited Phuket. There are more than 40 direct flights per week from India in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore,” Mr. Arnuparb explained. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/09/phuket-expects-150000-more-indian-tourists-this-year-generating-more-than-7-5-billion-baht-after-roadshow-in-india/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 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!

OPINION Disrupted sleep has been a hallmark of the COVID-19 pandemic for many of us living in Thailand. Psychologists explain why it is so crucial for everyone to get back to a healthy routine. Maybe like a lot of us you find yourself asking "Why can't I sleep?" or "Why am I more tired when I wake up than when I went to bed?" There are many potential reasons why someone may be having trouble sleeping. So perhaps if you constantly having a tough time falling or also staying asleep, chances are the cause is something you’re doing. The obvious cause can be drinking coffee late in the day. Or something you’re not doing, like getting rid of the stress that keeps you awake. Brought on by the stress of living in a global pandemic and a recession, sleep experts have even labeled these sleep problems “Coronasomnia,” a portmanteau3 of coronavirus and insomnia. Currently, I have noticed that I tend to wake up earlier and after working in the morning, by mid-day I am already dozing off. I told a few of my friends and work colleagues about my problem and they were having the same issues too. One even thought it was a symptom of Covid even though he did not test positive. Could people who have had one of the many variants of Covid still keep a mild form of it in our systems and that could be a reason we keep running out of energy? Sleep disorders Since the pandemic began, researchers around the world have documented a surge in sleep disorders. Upended routines, more screen time, increased alcohol consumption, and dissolving boundaries between work and private life are just a few of the factors contributing to problems with sleep. And given the crucial role sleep plays in both physical and mental health, psychologists say it’s important to be proactive in addressing any issues. “Once sleep is disrupted, it can impact mental and physical health, which may in turn cause further sleep disruption,” said Athena Akrami, PhD, a neuroscientist at University College London, who is studying cognitive dysfunction in COVID-19, including sleep disturbances. “A vicious cycle may form that is very difficult to diagnose and treat properly.” Some people are sleeping more than ever, while others face shortened schedules, delayed schedules, or insomnia. Those suffering from post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or “long COVID syndrome,” where post-infection symptoms persist for months, are also reporting insomnia, sleep apnea, night sweats, and other problems. Even after a stressful experience ends, sleep disturbances may continue—so experts say problems with sleep could persist into the coming months as life begins to normalize. “The good news is there are treatments that work,” said psychologist James Maas, PhD, a retired professor at Cornell University and an international consultant on sleep. “For many of us spending time at home, this is a wonderful opportunity to regularize our sleep patterns and reap all the benefits that stem from a good night’s rest.” Aside from being a major life event, living in stay-at-home conditions also increases our exposure to minor hassles and frustrations, which are known to reduce sleep quality. In addition, less sunlight exposure, more screen time, irregular mealtimes, and increased alcohol use—all of which can interfere with circadian rhythm—are likely to exacerbate sleep problems in people working or learning from home. Establishing healthy routines Though many have turned to over-the-counter sleep aids such as melatonin, experts said the best defense against insomnia is to improve sleep hygiene or participate in cognitive behavioral therapy. Good sleep hygiene practices start with establishing a regular sleep-wake cycle. Go to bed around the same time each night, but not until you feel sleepy, and wake up at the same time each day. Establishing a daytime routine that includes exercise, regular mealtimes, and exposure to sunlight also helps calibrate the body’s circadian rhythm—as does avoiding caffeine within 10 hours and alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. Luckily here in Thailand, we do get a fair bit of sunshine. Of course, if these routines don’t work you could always go back to the old methods of counting sheep or saying the Alphabet backward. -- © 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

Sanook Thai Caption: Teacher feels discouraged Sanook reported on yet another case of a teacher hitting a student in a Thai school. Some will say it's nothing - "I was given a clip around the ear as a child and it never did me any harm". Others will say a teacher should never raise their hand to a pupil EVER - it is a sign of a bad teacher who can't properly control a class with words. This case encapsulates the relationship between teachers, parents, students and directors in Thai schools. And the acceptance that casual violence against children is acceptable. Things are very different in international schools in Thailand, notes ASEAN NOW. It came to light after a post on social media in a clip that showed a computer studies class at a school in Sriracha, Chonburi, central Thailand. A female teacher hits a student around the ear. The poster said they shouldn't have done that. Sanook went to Thai Kasikorn Songkro school where they met acting director Sittichoke Sridee, Natcha, a computer science teacher and Wanwisa, 40, the parent of a M2 boy. They were later joined by the boy. It happen two weeks ago. The teacher said three boys had arrived late to class and couldn't remember their log in details and were told to go to the front of the class. One was hit - the teacher called it "just a slap". She didn't think anything of it, and she claimed neither did the boy. Then it was on social media after a fellow pupil filmed it - it was all very discouraging, she claimed. The director praised the teacher for being dedicated and able to control the class. The parent said that it was fine to hit her child to bring him into line. The boy said he didn't mind and it was nothing. A former teacher at an international school told ASEAN NOW: "If that happened at an international school the teacher would be sacked. Or at the very least not have their contract renewed after an investigation. "There is no place for any kind of violence in the classroom and someone who does this can't control a student with words and should not be teaching. Picture: Sanook "What goes on in Thai schools may be different but assault is assault no matter what. "What do you expect the boy in the incident to say except that he was in the wrong and it's okay. "He is powerless in the face of officialdom and deserves protection". The debate goes on about the role of teachers in schools in Thailand. In this story the media is sympathetic to the school and the teacher after hearing the explanations and the agreement of the parent. But should not the fundamental person who should be protected be the student no matter what they might have done in the class? What is your opinion? -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-08-09 - 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

By Jonathan Fairfield Thailand is among the 10 best countries for expats, according to the annual Expat Insider Survey carried out by InterNations. The latest ranking sees Thailand move up to 8th place from its 14th place ranking in 2021. The survey gauges expat’s satisfaction with life in their country of residence across various different factors, such as: Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, and Personal Finance. In addition, this year’s survey included a new Expat Essentials Index which assessed people’s satisfaction with their Digital Life, Admin Topics, Housing and Language. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-among-the-top-10-countries-for-expats/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-08 - 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!

By Goongnang Suksawat Phuket – A representative of entertainment workers filed a letter to relevant officials to suppress alleged illegal foreign workers. Mr. Prompiriya Thamuppatam, 37, went to the Damrongtham Center Phuket Office (Ombudsman’s offices) with a letter on August 5th, in the early afternoon. Mr. Prampiriya stated via the letter, “There are many foreigners who are using tourist visas and working at entertainment venues in Phuket as DJs, singers, musicians, dancers, receptionists, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, and bar managers. They don’t have work permits. Many of them have overstayed for many years but no officers have checked on these issues. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/06/thai-entertainment-workers-complain-over-alleged-illegal-foreign-workers-in-phuket/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-08-06 - 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!

Khao Soi. File photo By Online Reporter This will not come as a soup-rise to anyone who has ever tried the tasty northern Thai dish. Khao soi has been ranked as the world’s best soup, according to the online international food database TasteAtlas. The popular dish scored a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars in the website’s ranking of 50 best soups. The website described Khao soi as “a signature dish of Northern Thailand”, which is “a delicious coconut soup in which numerous regional influences were combined to create a truly spectacular dish. The base of the soup is a slightly spicy broth which combines coconut milk and red curry paste”. “The broth is served with flat egg noodles and a choice of meat, which usually includes chicken, beef, and pork. It is topped with a handful of crisp fried noodles and chopped cilantro. The dish is commonly served alongside a variety of condiments such as fresh lime, pickled cabbage, shallots, and chilis”. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/food-wine/khao-soi-ranked-worlds-best-soup-in-foodie-list/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-06 - 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!

By Erich Parpart Opposition parties will file a petition to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s premiership term in two weeks, the opposition leader said. Six opposition parties led by Cholnan Srikaew, leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, said they will file the petition to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai to ask the court to rule on the premier’s term limit either on August 16 or 17, a week before August 24 when they believe Gen Prayut’s tenure should expire. “The reason why we did not file the petition before this was because we were waiting for the most opportune moment and now, we have a conclusion on when that will be,” he said. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42440/opposition-set-to-file-petition-with-constitutional-court-on-the-8-year-term-limit-of-prayut-by-mid-august/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-08-06 - 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!