webfact

Politicians outraged over kindergarten that deduct marks for children that cry during tests By Natcha Patanasophon Politicians expressed concern on Friday over news that a kindergarten was lowering the test scores of students who cry during tests. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249124-politicians-outraged-over-kindergarten-that-deduct-marks-for-children-that-cry-during-tests/

By Natcha Patanasophon Politicians expressed concern on Friday over news that a kindergarten was lowering the test scores of students who cry during tests. According to documents released by the school in question, the school said it would take points off from the test scores of kindergarten students who cry during the tests. Nattawut Buaprathum, the deputy party leader of the Move Forward Party, told Thai Enquirer that the school’s new regulations were a violation of children’s rights. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/37249/politicians-outraged-over-kindergarten-that-deduct-marks-for-children-that-cry-during-tests/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-02-04 - 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

Fourth southern insurgent held after 10-hour siege in Songkhla The fourth insurgent, holding out in a house in Chana district of Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla, was captured by security forces on Thursday evening, following a siege which lasted over ten hours and killings of three other insurgents at the house in a clash yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249117-fourth-southern-insurgent-held-after-10-hour-siege-in-songkhla/

The fourth insurgent, holding out in a house in Chana district of Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla, was captured by security forces on Thursday evening, following a siege which lasted over ten hours and killings of three other insurgents at the house in a clash yesterday. The fourth suspect sustained a bullet wound to his left leg. He was taken to the interrogation centre at the Ingkhayutthaborihan military camp in Nong Chik district of Pattani province for questioning. An M16 assault rifle was found in his possession. A security officer said that the suspect managed to escape into a nearby mosque during the siege. He was found after the force had stormed the house and failed to locate him, prompting them to search the nearby masjid. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fourth-southern-insurgent-held-after-10-hour-siege-in-songkhla/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-04 - 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

Govt Urged to Cut Oil Tax by 2 Baht/Liter BANGKOK, Feb 4 (TNA) – An academic proposed the government cut the excise tax on oil by two baht per liter to relieve the burden of the state Oil Fund that is subsidizing fuel prices. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249116-govt-urged-to-cut-oil-tax-by-2-bahtliter/

BANGKOK, Feb 4 (TNA) – An academic proposed the government cut the excise tax on oil by two baht per liter to relieve the burden of the state Oil Fund that is subsidizing fuel prices. Independent academic Praipol Koomsup said the Oil Fund was already 14 billion baht in the red for subsidizing diesel and cooking gas prices and the subsidization could not continue if the crude price reached US$100 a barrel due to conflicts in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia. He proposed the government reduce the excise tax on diesel and petrol by about two baht per liter from nearly six baht per liter. Otherwise, the government could not continue to cap the diesel price at 30 baht per liter, he said. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-876177 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-02-04 - 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

Police rule out murder or serious crime after US owner of buried BMW is located safe and well by James Morris and Son Nguyen On Wednesday, 3rd February, Deputy National Police Commissioner General Suchart Teerasawat, also known as ‘Big Mai’, flew, by helicopter, to Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was there to meet with senior police officers in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district investigating the appearance of a buried BMW car, in a rainstorm, once owned by an American teacher in Phuket, 52-year-old Michael Dylan Gregory. The investigation has established that Mr G, who left Thailand ten years ago, is alive and well but is still probing the mystery of why the car was buried, believing the circumstance to be ‘ highly suspicious’ and indicative of criminal activity. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249106-police-rule-out-murder-or-serious-crime-after-us-owner-of-buried-bmw-is-located-safe-and-well/

UPDATE: Police rule out murder or serious crime after US owner of buried BMW is located safe and well by James Morris and Son Nguyen On Wednesday, 3rd February, Deputy National Police Commissioner General Suchart Teerasawat, also known as ‘Big Mai’, flew, by helicopter, to Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was there to meet with senior police officers in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district investigating the appearance of a buried BMW car, in a rainstorm, once owned by an American teacher in Phuket, 52-year-old Michael Dylan Gregory. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249106-police-rule-out-murder-or-serious-crime-after-us-owner-of-buried-bmw-is-located-safe-and-well/

On Wednesday, 3rd February, Deputy National Police Commissioner General Suchart Teerasawat, also known as ‘Big Mai’, flew, by helicopter, to Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was there to meet with senior police officers in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district investigating the appearance of a buried BMW car, in a rainstorm, once owned by an American teacher in Phuket, 52-year-old Michael Dylan Gregory. The investigation has established that Mr Gergory, who left Thailand ten years ago, is alive and well but is still probing the mystery of why the car was buried, believing the circumstance to be ‘ highly suspicious’ and indicative of criminal activity. by James Morris and Son Nguyen Car owned by Phuket based US teacher Michael Dylan Gregory who lived in Thailand until February 2012 was de-registered in 2010 and was the subject of a court order issued to Kasikorn Leasing in 2011 for its seizure. An intensive police probe continues in Nakhon Si Thammarat after catching the attention of Deputy National Police Chief General Suchart Teerasawat or ‘Big Mai’. Police are investigating if a luxury BMW car owned by a 52-year-old American, found suspiciously buried in a Nakhon Si Thammarat palm oil plantation on Tuesday, was linked to a gang active in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district of the province involved in cutting up luxury cars for spare parts. It comes after they tracked the US man down through international police agencies and confirmed that he was safe and alive. Senior police in Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Thursday, were expressing relief that the discovery of a BMW car found buried in an oil plantation in the Chaloem Phra Kiat district of the provice does not appear to be connected with a serious crime or, as it had been feared initially, murder. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/02/03/murder-ruled-out-us-man-bmw-found-buried/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-02-04 - 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

Pfizer has an oral tablet for Covid. Wonder if Thailand has placed an order? Pfizer's Paxlovid pills are seen at a manufacturing facility in Freiburg, Germany in his handout photo provided on Nov 16, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Pfizer/Handout) Pfizer's Paxlovid has become the first oral tablet to be put into production for the treatment of COVID-19 in adult patients who are at risk of severe disease. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249105-pfizer-has-an-oral-tablet-for-covid-wonder-if-thailand-has-placed-an-order/

Pfizer's Paxlovid pills are seen at a manufacturing facility in Freiburg, Germany in his handout photo provided on Nov 16, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Pfizer/Handout) Pfizer's Paxlovid has become the first oral tablet to be put into production for the treatment of COVID-19 in adult patients who are at risk of severe disease. Already here in Asia, the Singapore government was quick to announce it had approved the use of the new pill last week. In fact, an agreement had already been signed with Pfizer's Singapore arm to purchase the drug. They expect to start receiving deliveries within a month. "This is the first oral tablet for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adult patients who are at substantial risk of progression to severe disease, to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death," added the authority in Singapore. The pill should be taken twice a day for five days, with treatment being initiated as soon as possible after a diagnosis has been made, within five days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Paxlovid has been found to reduce the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalisation or death by 88.9 per cent when treatment was given within three days of the onset of symptoms, according to a review of the available clinical data based on rolling submissions of the results from an ongoing Phase II/III study. When given within five days of the onset of symptoms, the pill reduces that risk by 87.8 per cent. The efficacy analysis included patients infected with the Delta variant. Will Thailand again be slow off the mark? We all remember how slow it took Thailand to actually find supplies of vaccines while other Asian countries signed up for the Covac System. Seems that this new pill will soon become the norm for doctors and even pharmacies start to supply to people with early symptoms. Now the news is out of course every country around the world will be calling their Pfizer contacts desperately trying to find out when they can get hold of Paxlovid. Whether we agree or not this pill could save lives and is easy to distribute. So, the 100-dollar question is has the Thai Ministry of Health signed an agreement yet? -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Golden eel brings good fortune to restaurant owner - now his friends want a piece of the lottery action Picture: Daily News Daily News reporters hotfooted it to the north east of Thailand after they heard that a golden eel was attracting lottery attention. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249102-golden-eel-brings-good-fortune-to-restaurant-owner-now-his-friends-want-a-piece-of-the-lottery-action/

Picture: Daily News Daily News reporters hotfooted it to the north east of Thailand after they heard that a golden eel was attracting lottery attention. In Elephant City - also known as Surin - they met up with 33 year old restaurant owner Chainam Aramreuang. He said the eel - 62 cms long with a 4.5 cm head - was caught by an employee and the locals wanted to cut it up and eat it. But he saved the day for the eel and put it in an aquarium instead. He said it was unusual in that it could be easily handled. Ever since he saved it from the chopping board he had experienced nothing but luck in terms of money and his work life. He credited the eel with bringing good fortune - "nam choke" in Thai. Now his friends and the locals are busily getting in on the act reckoning that #80, the number of the restaurant's address, will come up in the lottery - either that or 801, 81 or 01. Others have been taking pictures with their mobile phones of the eel's skin to divine the numbers with 25 and 41 detected so far. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Three arrested for shooting of "full body tattoo" man left in the middle of the road Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported on the arrest in Nakhon Pathom in central Thailand of three members of a gang who shot a man and left him in the middle of the road. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249098-three-arrested-for-shooting-of-full-body-tattoo-man-left-in-the-middle-of-the-road/

Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported on the arrest in Nakhon Pathom in central Thailand of three members of a gang who shot a man and left him in the middle of the road. The brazen attack of the heavily tattooed man was solved after CCTV was examined. The arrest was done at the Kasetsat University, Kamphaeng Saen campus. One shooter remains at large. The February 1st 2.00 am shooting resulted in the death of Pornchai or "Geng" Meuangnok, aged 29. Picture: 77kaoded He was shot at least five times with a .38 gun and left in the middle of a road. He was mixed up in drugs. In custody are Mongkhol, 43, Winai, 29, and Bunnak, aged 37 all Nakhon Pathom men. Picture: 77kaoded They were taken on a reenactment at the scene after being charged with murder and other offences. A ringleader called Benz remains at large. Police remained tight lipped on the details for once. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Popular electrical authority employee gets a grand sendoff at Rayong temple Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported on the cremation of a popular and diligent member of the Provincial Electrical Authority in Map Ta Phut who was killed in a road accident. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249097-popular-electrical-authority-employee-gets-a-grand-sendoff-at-rayong-temple/

Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported on the cremation of a popular and diligent member of the Provincial Electrical Authority in Map Ta Phut who was killed in a road accident. At the funeral at Wat Ban Chang, in Ban Chang, Rayong ten cantilever vehicles with baskets - rot krachao used to repair faulty lines - turned up including the deceased's own vehicle that was raised up to its highest level behind the crematorium. Eight offroad vehicles also came and did three circuits of the crematorium to complete the send-off and "send the soul" to heaven. The media intimated it was funny. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Three Khon Kaen districts given green light to serve alcohol to midnight - but Muang district must wait Picture: INN INN reported after a meeting that the governor of Khon Kaen province was happy to ease Covid-19 restrictions in the province after infections were down and vaccinations were proceeding apace. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249090-three-khon-kaen-districts-given-green-light-to-serve-alcohol-to-midnight-but-muang-district-must-wait/

Picture: INN INN reported after a meeting that the governor of Khon Kaen province was happy to ease Covid-19 restrictions in the province after infections were down and vaccinations were proceeding apace. Somsak Jangtrakul said it had been decided to allow SHA and Thai Stop Covid registered establishments to open serving alcohol until midnight in three districts. They are Ubonrat, Wiang Kao and Pueai Noi. But Muang district and three others will have to wait for now. School children from P5 down - aged 5 - 11 - will be allowed back in school when Pfizer vaccinations have reached 70% of the school population, he added after a meeting to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the NE Thai province yesterday. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Thousands of refugees cross back into Myanmar, as conditions on Thai side prove unbearable By Caleb Quinley Thousands of Myanmar refugees have gradually crossed back into Myanmar over the last few weeks. Living conditions on the Thai side were too difficult and their settlements were reportedly dismantled by the Thai military, according to local sources. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249089-thousands-of-refugees-cross-back-into-myanmar-as-conditions-on-thai-side-prove-unbearable/

By Caleb Quinley Thousands of Myanmar refugees have gradually crossed back into Myanmar over the last few weeks. Living conditions on the Thai side were too difficult and their settlements were reportedly dismantled by the Thai military, according to local sources. Many of the refugees are from Lay Kay Kaw, a town near the Thai border in Karen state. But when their city was invaded by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, in December, they fled to Thailand’s border to escape the violence. Some of the refugees are also from Kayah state, an area that has been targeted with airstrikes over the last two months. The escalation of violence since December has pushed thousands of people to flee for their lives. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/37213/thousands-of-refugees-cross-back-into-myanmar-as-conditions-on-thai-side-prove-unbearable/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-02-04 - 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

Motorcycle taxi rider arrested for rape of stepdaughter - a Cambodian girl aged just 11 Picture: Siam Rath A 53 year old Thai motorcycle taxi rider has been arrested and taken to Bang Khun Thian police station in south western Bangkok after he admitted repeatedly raping his own step daughter. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249088-motorcycle-taxi-rider-arrested-for-rape-of-stepdaughter-a-cambodian-girl-aged-just-11/

Picture: Siam Rath A 53 year old Thai motorcycle taxi rider has been arrested and taken to Bang Khun Thian police station in south western Bangkok after he admitted repeatedly raping his own step daughter. The girl was named only as "A" an 11 year old Cambodian national. The case came to light after a member of the public filed a report to police. Met chief Pol Lt-Gen Samran Nuanma liaised with the Social Development and Human Security ministry and the Children and Women's Welfare Supervision Division of the RTP, reported Siam Rath. Found alone in a house was the victim. Interviewed was a 39 year old Cambodian woman, her mother. Investigations revealed that Phaitoon lived behind the mother and daughter and was the child's legal guardian. He admitted that from November 2021 he started to sexually molest her when she was alone at her house while her mother was working at a restaurant. He described in graphic detail the depraved acts committed against the child on at lest 5-6 occasions, the latest being at the end of January. He has been charged with rape of a minor under 13. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-02-04 - 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

Jealous Thai husband kills wife over 8,000 baht debt - drink cited as contributing factor yet again Picture: Thai Rath Alcohol was once again cited as a contributing factor in a gruesome murder at a fishing facility in Chachoengsao in central Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1249084-jealous-thai-husband-kills-wife-over-8000-baht-debt-drink-cited-as-contributing-factor-yet-again/