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Plug or take to the bike as fuel prices soar by Michael Bridge Fuel prices have been rising for some time; however, the current Ukraine Russia situation has just sent fuel prices through the roof. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253058-plug-or-take-to-the-bike-as-fuel-prices-soar/

by Michael Bridge Fuel prices have been rising for some time; however, the current Ukraine Russia situation has just sent fuel prices through the roof. I drive a Ford Fiesta which takes E20 and normally to fill up (normally with a quarter of the tank still with petrol) I would pay around THB790. Today it is costing THB1,300. E20 was approx THB26.00 a litre and yesterday I was charged THB39.40. People expect it to go up and then we will have to rely on governments around the world to subsidise, to easy inflation. Petrol affects everyone even if you don’t drive as deliveries become more expensive and your supermarket bill will naturally rise too. Perhaps as this Australian Facebook post shows that ride a bike is free. I am sure those of us rich enough to buy an electric carry must be laughing all the way to the bank as fuel prices jump. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe We are starting to see more and more places for EV drivers to recharge in shopping centre car parks and at gas stations. Thailand has made a goal of having 1 million EV’s on its roads by 2025, with a figure of 15 million to be expected 10 years from now. The market is expected to include not just private vehicles, but also delivery vans, buses, and trucks. So, with Russia supplying car manufactures with many components, maybe now is the time to grab one of the few remaining EV’S in the showrooms or start learning to ride a bike. Not only will you lose weight, but you will have more Baht in your pocket too. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-11 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

"Magical Calf" with spotted pizzle brings luck - now all the locals want some lottery action! Picture: Daily News Daily News reporters hot footed it to Surin in the north east of Thailand where a calf has become famous. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253022-magical-calf-with-spotted-pizzle-brings-luck-now-all-the-locals-want-some-lottery-action/

Picture: Daily News Daily News reporters hot footed it to Surin in the north east of Thailand where a calf has become famous. Locals have dubbed it "Phaya Wua" after an old myth. The reason, said owner Samran, 62, in the village of Ban Doo in Nong Bua Ban sub-district, was the very peculiar white markings. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe On its legs, hump, tail and pizzle. Ever since the animal was born on January 10th the family has had nothing but good fortune. Now the locals are all clamoring for a piece of the action trying to divine the lottery numbers. Samran said that no matter what offer he gets, no way is he selling! Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

Tightrope walk for Thai government as Ukraine invasion brings new challenges Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha attends a news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Government House in Bangkok on February 25, 2022. (Photo by Jack TAYLOR / AFP) The reverberations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the globe. The war itself has severely disrupted the production and export of oil, gas, fertilizers, as well as some food products from the two countries. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253021-tightrope-walk-for-thai-government-as-ukraine-invasion-brings-new-challenges/

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha attends a news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Government House in Bangkok on February 25, 2022. (Photo by Jack TAYLOR / AFP) The reverberations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the globe. The war itself has severely disrupted the production and export of oil, gas, fertilizers, as well as some food products from the two countries. Thailand depends heavily on imported oil and gas, but the outlook seems bleak as the price of crude oil has soared to over $100 dollar a barrel for several days with the potential to rise further as Russia continues to bombard its neighboring country. Moscow’s actions have been met with harsh economic sanctions by the West and its allies. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Tough decision on excise tax cut Many Thai manufacturers have warned that at best they could delay increasing the prices of their products by 1-3 months, as they are burdened by higher costs of production due to the soaring energy prices. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tightrope-walk-for-thai-government-as-ukraine-invasion-brings-new-challenges/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Teenage cyclist crushed to death by 22 wheel truck - locals complain of terrible bottleneck on Route 314 Picture: 77kaoded An 18 year old PT employee called Nonthakorn told 77kaoded a harrowing tale of what happened on Route 314 outside the gas yesterday in Chachoengsao. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253020-teenage-cyclist-crushed-to-death-by-22-wheel-truck-locals-complain-of-terrible-bottleneck-on-route-314/

Picture: 77kaoded An 18 year old PT employee called Nonthakorn told 77kaoded a harrowing tale of what happened on Route 314 outside the gas yesterday in Chachoengsao. He said he heard screams then turned to see that a 14-15 year old boy was lying in the road next to his yellow bicycle. A trucker coming up behind told Nonthakorn that the 22 wheel truck responsible had not stopped, just carried on. He tried to run after it but it got away and he didn't know the registration plate. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said that the area is a terrible bottleneck caused by barriers and roadworks. Others agreed that it was terrible with every vehicle jostling for space especially during rush hours. Police said that there was no ID on the boy but they thought he must be a local. They are trying to locate his folks and use CCTV to identify the driver and truck responsible for his death. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

Hand gel banned from Thai prisons after one convict dies, another is blinded, many sick from lethal cocktails A corrections' department doctor has revealed that prisoners in Thailand mixed alcohol hand gel with soft drinks to get drunk at New Year. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253018-hand-gel-banned-from-thai-prisons-after-one-convict-dies-another-is-blinded-many-sick-from-lethal-cocktails/

A corrections' department doctor has revealed that prisoners in Thailand mixed alcohol hand gel with soft drinks to get drunk at New Year. One person died, another was blinded and 31 others fell sick. Dr Thatri Sunpongsri said that the cons had been collecting the gel over a period of time ready for New Year. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Then using their own initiative the lethal cocktails were made. He noted that alcohol is banned in prisons. Around 4-5 convicts were hospitalized and the rest had mild symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and stomach problems because they did not consume very much. Now virtually all hand gel has been replaced by soap in prisons nationwide with inmates warned about the perils of consuming ethanol and methanol. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

That's not our dad! Daughters arrive at hospital to discover admin error - their dad may or may not be dead Picture: INN A bizarre tale is unfolding in Pathum Thani north of the Thai capital Bangkok after two daughters arrived at hospital to visit their dad on his deathbed and realised it was not him. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253016-thats-not-our-dad-daughters-arrive-at-hospital-to-discover-admin-error-their-dad-may-or-may-not-be-dead/

Picture: INN A bizarre tale is unfolding in Pathum Thani north of the Thai capital Bangkok after two daughters arrived at hospital to visit their dad on his deathbed and realised it was not him. INN became aware of the story after a Facebook post by a lady called Thusapa or Pat who was looking for her dad who suffers from Alzheimer's. She told reporters that her dad Theera had been in a nursing home for 7 years. In January the family were told of a Covid outbreak at the home and that their dad had been taken to Pathum Thani Hospital. Due to Covid restrictions Pat and her sister were unable to see their dad but they heard he was eating well and were not unduly concerned. However at the end of January his condition worsened and the family decided to deny requests to have him intubated. By 7th March he was on his deathbed and the family were allowed to spend his last hours with them. But they were in for a terrible shock. When they arrived it was clear that this man was not their dad. She told the nurses of the error but was fobbed off by the staff saying that very sick people are often emaciated and unrecognisable. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pat said" "Look, I know my own dad". She took a picture and sent it to the nursing home who agreed that it was not her dad but a man called Bunhana. Pat contacted Bunhana's family who said that they thought their dad had died in January. He had been cremated at Wat Hong in Pathum Thani and they had never inspected him in the coffin due to Covid restrictions. Pat and her sister were only 50-50 around their father being the dead man so they pressed the hospital authorities to allow them to put on PPE and look for him in the hospital. They didn't find him. Now reports have been filed with the police and the Ministry of Public Health is involved. The family of the missing man - who may or may not be dead - have called for the bones of the man who was cremated to be checked for DNA. The hospital told them this was "difficult". ASEAN NOW notes that we have done a search and it is indeed possible to extract DNA from bone fragments among ashes. The family of the missing man have promised to take full legal action in the matter. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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 claims close call with organ trading gang in Cambodia A 25-year-old Thai woman from Bangkok, who was lured to work illegally in Cambodia for a call centre, escaped and fell victim to an organ trading gang, has safely returned to Thailand with the help of Thai police. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253011-thai-woman-claims-close-call-with-organ-trading-gang-in-cambodia/

A 25-year-old Thai woman from Bangkok, who was lured to work illegally in Cambodia for a call centre, escaped and fell victim to an organ trading gang, has safely returned to Thailand with the help of Thai police. Assistant to the National Police Chief Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn travelled to Aranyaprathet district of Thailand’s eastern province of Sa Kaeo, on the Thai-Cambodian border, yesterday (Wednesday), to accompany the woman and seven other Thais, who had also been lured to work illegally in Cambodia, back to Thailand. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, told Surachate that, when she arrived in the port city of Sihanoukville in Cambodia, she was told to work for a Chinese-operated call centre. When she refused, she was assaulted, detained, left to starve and told to contact her family in Thailand to pay for her freedom. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-woman-claims-close-call-with-organ-trading-gang-in-cambodia/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai husband lets his wife carry the can in Yaba bust - she's left with 198,000 pills Sanook Thai Caption: It's every 'man" for himself, luv A Thai woman's husband was left to face the music after her husband ran off into a sugar cane field during a drugs arrest in north eastern Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253010-thai-husband-lets-his-wife-carry-the-can-in-yaba-bust-shes-left-with-198000-pills/

Sanook Thai Caption: It's every 'man" for himself, luv A Thai woman's husband was left to face the music after her husband ran off into a sugar cane field during a drugs arrest in north eastern Thailand. Region 4 police had been told by an informant that someone would be coming to collect a sack left by a lamppost in Chumphae, Khon Kaen. They found the package and laid in wait. A Honda City arrived and a man got out to haul the sack into his vehicle but when police approached he managed to run off into the sugar cane field. Sirilak, was left along with three phones. Inside the sack were 34 packs of Yaba (meth amphetamine mixed with caffeine) comprising 198,000 pills. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe There was also the ID card of a man called Arm Wongjanla in the car. Sirilak admitted she was involved telling the police that they had been hired by a Laotian contact to pick up the drugs and deliver them to other dealers in the area. She said that she and Arm had taken Yaba before going on their mission. She tested positive for the drug and has been charged with that as investigations continue into the couple's drug dealing. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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

In Thailand, businesses feel economic shock of Ukraine war Countries across Asia are bracing for rising inflation and supply chain disruptions amid sanctions against Russia. Thailand's businesses are feeling the knock-on effects of the war in the Ukraine and sanctions against Russia [File: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters] By Vijitra Duangdee Bangkok, Thailand – For Bangkok-based exporter Peyton Enloe, getting Thai fresh fruit and vegetables onto Russian supermarket shelves has become an almost impossible task. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253009-in-thailand-businesses-feel-economic-shock-of-ukraine-war/

Thailand's businesses are feeling the knock-on effects of the war in the Ukraine and sanctions against Russia [File: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters] Countries across Asia are bracing for rising inflation and supply chain disruptions amid sanctions against Russia. By Vijitra Duangdee Bangkok, Thailand – For Bangkok-based exporter Peyton Enloe, getting Thai fresh fruit and vegetables onto Russian supermarket shelves has become an almost impossible task. Russian consumers are cutting back on luxuries as the value of the rouble plummets to record lows. Not only that, the Aeroflot planes Enloe relies on to transport his produce are running out of space as flights fill up with Russian tourists cutting their holidays short. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “We’ve basically lost market access to Russia,” Enloe, managing director of Purithai Produce, which ships fresh and frozen produce to Europe, America and Russia, told Al Jazeera. “My Russian customers told me people don’t have money to even buy the basics, let alone ‘exotic’ produce like mangos, durians, rambutans.” Full story: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/9/in-thailand-businesses-feel-economic-shock-of-ukraine-war -- © Copyright AL JAZEERA 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

PE teacher repeatedly raped student from age 13 - he videoed sex to threaten her, she needed two abortions Sanook Thai Caption: He made the victim call him "daddy" Anti Human Trafficking police gathered evidence after a 21 year old woman from Kamphaeng Phet reported that she had been repeatedly raped by her PE teacher from the age of 13. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253005-pe-teacher-repeatedly-raped-student-from-age-13-he-videoed-sex-to-threaten-her-she-needed-two-abortions/

Sanook Thai Caption: He made the victim call him "daddy" Anti Human Trafficking police gathered evidence after a 21 year old woman from Kamphaeng Phet reported that she had been repeatedly raped by her PE teacher from the age of 13. A 52 year old man was arrested outside a restaurant in Nakhon Sawan as he walked with a companion to his vehicle. A sting involving a video clip had been conducted with a young person the media called "dek" without elaborating. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The victim of the rape - now 21 - left Kamphaeng Phet when she graduated and went to live with relatives in Bangkok. But when she went back up north in January her former tormentor again threatened to expose her with video evidence of their sexual encounters, attacked her and forced her to have sex with him. She'd had enough. She went to the human trafficking police. Sanook reported that over the years the teacher had repeatedly filmed their sex to threaten her and she even needed two abortions after getting pregnant. After the victim's mother died he had assumed the position of her step-father making her call him "daddy" to cover his activities. He faces charges of having sex with a child under 15, statutory rape. Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 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 Air Force Affirms New Fighter Jets Are a ’Necessity’ by Thammarat Thadaphrom File photo for reference only. Source: Wikipedia BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Air Force has insisted on purchasing new fighter jets, saying the new fleet, which will replace the existing aircraft soon to be decommissioned, is needed to increase the country’s defense capabilities. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253004-thai-air-force-affirms-new-fighter-jets-are-a-’necessity’/

File photo for reference only. Source: Wikipedia by Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Air Force has insisted on purchasing new fighter jets, saying the new fleet, which will replace the existing aircraft soon to be decommissioned, is needed to increase the country’s defense capabilities. Royal Thai Air Force spokesperson Air Vice-Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee stated that it is the air force’s responsibility to maintain full readiness for the sake of national security. He stated that the air force is expected to follow the Defense Ministry’s national security and defense operation plan to also ensure sufficient capability in response to any threats. Thailand’s fighter jet decommissioning process began in 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2031. The air force said the operation will see less than half the number of jets the country had previously by 2032, which is not enough to maintain air defense operations. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe According to Air Vice-Marshal Prapas, the air force also intends to purchase fifth-generation fighters with five core features: stealth, supercruise, sensor fusion, and super maneuverability, as well as avionics integration systems. These advanced fighter jets are also required for the air force’s security cooperation with other countries in the region, in addition to bolstering the nation’s air defense capabilities. Separately, an air-force panel is investigating the Tuesday crash of an F-16 A-ADF fighter plane in Chaiyaphum’s Chaturat region. As the investigation proceeds, the agency is seeking assistance from the United States in data extraction. The probe is anticipated to be completed in one week. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Chonburi announces 978 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and three new deaths By Goong Nang(GN) Highlights: 978 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today via PCR 2,924 positive ATK (rapid antigen) tests were reported. The Thai Government considers these “suspected” cases. 1,275 (PCR) and 1,290 (ATK) recovered and were released from medical care Three new deaths Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253003-chonburi-announces-978-new-and-confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-and-three-new-deaths/

By Goong Nang(GN) Highlights: 978 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today via PCR 2,924 positive ATK (rapid antigen) tests were reported. The Thai Government considers these “suspected” cases. 1,275 (PCR) and 1,290 (ATK) recovered and were released from medical care Three new deaths The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 978 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with three new deaths, March 10th, 2022. This makes a total of 50,797 cases (PCR) and 49,027 cases (ATK) of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 10,660 (PCR) and 21,036 (ATK) people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 82 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections at the beginning of this year, January 2022. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Additionally, 1,275 (PCR) and 1,290 (ATK) people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 40,055 (PCR) and 27,991 (ATK) people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began at the beginning of this year, January 2022. Six people were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia. Two of them were not vaccinated. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/03/10/chonburi-announces-978-new-and-confirmed-cases-of-covid-19-and-three-new-deaths/ Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-03-10 - Aetna 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Sky rocketing cost of fuel threatens boat tourism in Phuket Picture: Daily News A leading figure representing the pleasure boat industry in Phuket said that the rising cost of fuel threatens the industry. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1253002-sky-rocketing-cost-of-fuel-threatens-boat-tourism-in-phuket/